A Boy And His Books

Everyone has a choice how they use their time.  Some waste it. Others are caught up with electronic “toys” like cell phones, I-pods, and video games. Not so, with 12-year-old Matthew Flores of Salt Lake City, Utah. More about this in a moment.

Now, about all the junk mail people receive. Is there a use for it? Matthew thought so. He had such an insatiable appetite to read this is what he was reading, until a local mailman with a big heart responded to his true passion.

Mail carrier, Ron Lynch, discovered Matthew reading junk mail while on his delivery route. He became very curious, even more so when this young boy asked him for more junk mail to read. The average boy of his age does not use his time in this manner. Matthew really wanted books to read, but his family had no car and he did not have money to take the bus to the local library.

Ron came up with a plan. He got on facebook, hoping that his friends might donate 50-60 books.   What he didn’t expect was for it to go viral! Books have now come in from the U.K., Australia, and India. Lynch said he was “stunned and humbled by what happened.”

What makes this story so inspiring is that this young boy chose to spend his time reading, and a postman saw a simple need. There are needs all around us. We just have to be sensitive to them and not allow our busy lives to get in the way. Meeting needs can go a long way to warming someone’s heart-further than we may imagine. I wonder what Matthew will do with his life? Maybe he will become a doctor, scientist, or great inventor. One thing for sure is that he will be an avid reader and learner. Successful people never stop learning.  The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “I have set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven”(verse 1:13). 

Matthew Flores is setting an example for people of all ages. His message is that you do not have to drift through life. You can take charge and become the person you want to be. You don’t have to allow yourself to become stuck in a situation. Instead, you can choose to rise above your circumstances. Way to go, Matthew. Kudos to the mailman who saw the opportunity. Is there some part of your life that you are allowing to just drift, and you need t0 do something to break free and move ahead?

(Books can be sent to Matthew Flores, c/o Sandy Post Office, 8850 S 700E, Sandy, UT, 84070)