Shining means going above and beyond - even when no one is watching and when the chances are good you will get no credit.

Jennifer and Matthew usually arrive home each afternoon between 3:40 and 3:45.  Her job is to pick Matthew up from school and do homework with him until I arrive home between 4:30 and 5:00.

She's reliable, hardworking, loyal, and an majoring in Education.  Jennifer is nothing short of a dream come true.

Except last Friday when I arrived home at at 4:30 and they still weren't home.  The school is less than five minutes away, so I began worrying about where they were.  Jennifer has my cell phone number, so I knew she could get hold of me if something was wrong.

At 4:45, just as I was thinking I should get in my car and drive up to the school, Matthew and Jennifer came barreling through the door.  Each was holding a cup of frozen yogurt, Matthew's overflowing with yummy toppings.

"Where have you been?," I immediately ask, as if not obvious.

Matthew exclaimed, "Jennifer took me to YogurtLand."

So the story goes...

Two weeks ago Matthew was having a hard time getting through school days without being reprimanded by his teacher.  Rather than coming home with a sticker on his folder, his calendar had short notes indicating how he misbehaved - talking, running in the hallway, laughing in lunch line.  Dutifully, I talked to Matthew about his behavior, about not being a trouble maker, and about working hard to make a good impression on his teacher.

Unbeknownst to me, Jennifer was having her own little conversations with Matthew.  It turns out hers were far more motivating.

"Get a sticker every day next week and I will treat you to a cup of frozen yogurt at YogurtLand."

Here's why Jennifer's gesture registers high on my Shine-o-meter.

Jennifer is totally committed to her job.  She not only accepts responsibility for helping Matthew do his homework, but she also makes it her business to help Matthew be a good student - behavior and all.

Jennifer requires no bells or whistles.  If the two of them had not walked in with yogurt cups, I might never have found out about the arrangement she made with Matthew.  Jennifer didn't do what she did to impress me or because she thought it would please me.  She made the deal with Matthew, because she was 100% motivated to do something that would matter to him.

Because this was a deal between the two of them, Jennifer used her own money to pay for their yogurts.  To you and me that would be like paying to go to work.  And, because I know how little Jennifer makes each week, I know she's not flush with cash.  I am sure Jennifer did without something this week because of her generous gesture last week.

Jennifer's trip to YogurtLand is one small example of why she shines.  For the three years she's been babysitting, Jennifer has gone above and beyond, periodically surprising them with thoughtful gestures.  Gestures I often don't find out about until days or weeks later - if ever.

This week Jennifer and Matthew have a new arrangement.  Get five stickers and Matthew treats Jennifer to yogurt.  It's the least he can do to for the friend and motivator who has taken such an interest in him.

What's the last thing you, or someone you know, did that was above and beyond and without any recognition?  Join us in the Community Forum labeled, Today's Post and let us know.

Shining off until tomorrow...