The Girl Scouts organization was founded on this day in 1912.

More than 90 years ago today, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low gathered 18 girls from her hometown of Savannah, Georgia and held the first Girl Scout meeting. Juliette’s vision was to form an organization that would help girls develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. The girls hiked, camped, played sports, learned first aid, and served others. Within a few years, the group was organized officially as Girl Scouts, Inc. Today the group has a membership of more than four million girls. More than 50 million women in the United States today were once Girl Scouts.

At the core of Girl Scouting is the Promise. The Girl Scout Promise is the way members agree to act every day toward one another and other people. At every meeting girls affirm their commitment to the principles of Girl Scouts with these words: On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

At the heart of this promise is service and helping others. In much the same way, Christians need to put their faith into action by serving and helping others. James puts it this way: “Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless” (James 2:17).

Our good deeds are an outward expression of our commitment to God. How do we show others what is in our hearts? By cleaning our room without being asked. Helping a classmate at school with homework. Volunteering to do the “dirty jobs” at church. Collecting canned food for the hungry. Deeds of loving service affirm our faith in Jesus.

Let your good deeds shine for God!

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16).

To Do

Put your faith into action with a good deed at home, at school, or in your neighborhood.

Also this day . . .

Today is National Baked Scallops Day!

1789—The U.S. Post Office was established.

1894—Coca-Cola was sold in bottles for the first time.

1904—After 30 years of drilling, the tunnel under the Hudson River was completed, connecting Jersey City, N.J. and New York City.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.