We could take a lesson from 5-year-old Kinsler Matheson. He knows all about giving back, or paying it forward, whichever term you choose to use.

Matheson, son of Valerie and Kenneth Matheson, was born premature and spent the first six and a half months of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson.

Complications from his premature birth have sent him back to the hospital, and he will always suffer from chronic illnesses, his mother said. But that hasn’t stopped him from being grateful and remembering those who are in the hospital now.

He and his family have worked to spread joy to the pediatric hospital’s patients by distributing gift bags and adopting a floor of the hospital in order to touch as many patients as possible. Mrs. Matheson estimates they have given out as many as 400 bags to children at the hospital.

If we would look back at our own lives and follow Kinsler’s lead by blessing those who have blessed us, what a wonderful world it would be.

• Congratulations to veteran Usthana Hargrove, whose two-year stint as program coordinator with AmeriCorps in Vicksburg is up in August.

Hargrove spent 10 years in the U.S. Army, five years in the U.S. Navy and two and a half years in the Army National Guard.

In his job, Hargrove gets to assist other veterans and their families through the AmeriCorps program by helping in areas like finding work, food and healthcare.

Hargrove said Mississippi currently is the only state with such a program. However, in August, when his two years are up, Hargrove will head to Houston, where he plans to spread the program into Texas.

Hargrove is also active in the American Legion Post 3 here.

His group holds a monthly fundraiser and this Saturday at noon at 1712 Monroe St., that fundraiser will feature pulled pork plates cooked by Hargrove.

If you’re interested in supporting Hargrove and the American Legion Post 3 and want more information about the fundraiser, please call 601-636-1114.