Good morning…
In December, many of you pitched in to donate items to fill 100 gift bags for the senior citizens of the impoverished Grove Park area of our city. A handful of us joyfully assembled the Christmas gifts at Corinne Adam’s art studio over two magic-making work shifts. Then I drove the precious presents to PAWkids, who in turn gave them to the neighborhood police officers to deliver the gift bags to the most seasoned members of our community.
In response to the opportunity one regular reader in our written word community, who happens to live in Vancouver, Washington, texted me on December 7th.
“Sue, my hobby is beading,” she wrote, “and lately I have been drawn to making crosses. This might not work for y’all time wise, but I could ship UPS overnight tomorrow if you need some necklaces. I probably have a couple dozen. If it’s too late, keep in mind for future projects.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful!” I replied.
“Will ship you lots of necklaces tomorrow,” she continued. “I have an abundance of crosses and chains my stepmom left me upon her death in June. We used to bead together and give the sales to churches and scholarships. She would be delighted!”
“I love that you are sharing a loving form of art your stepmom shared with you,” I affirmed. “We will put these into bags for the seniors and God’s loving magic will multiply. Thank you for joining in the joy!”
“Thank YOU and all your colleagues,” she concluded. “It makes my holidays even more blessed.”
On Wednesday, December 8th she wrote: “Sue, just shipped jewelry and scarves to you by UPS Air. They are supposed to arrive Friday. Hope it’s not too late.”
“That will be perfect,” I trusted. “Thank you so much.”
Then on Saturday, December 11th she wrote again: “I hope the box made it in time for the items to be included in the gift bags. Fingers crossed.”
“The gift-laden package came in God’s perfect timing,” I texted. “We miraculously finished up and delivered to PAWkids 100 gift bags on Thursday with lots of helping hands. Your box came on Friday, which has drawn my thoughts to the future. Your package is a nudge from God that this fun form of gift giving is not a one time thing. The magic-making elves were thinking about Valentine’s Day, Easter, possibly annually? So the timing of your gorgeous gift is a magnet drawing us forward into every joyful thing God has planned. Thank you for your generosity. The cross necklaces, the scarves, and other creative beauties are so varied and amazing.”
“Ah well, there’s always a time for gifts,” she wrote. “I’m glad the items will be gifted eventually and so happy the PAWkids Project was successful. What a marvelous feat you all accomplished!”
“God did it with joy and power,” I acknowledged. “As we are just along for God’s ride, it was an effortless, fun feat. God tapped you and so many others to be a part of this magic-making, and I feel so honored to be a witness to the love of God. Like I said, I think your package arrived right on time, right when we were resting for an amazing whirlwind of giving. ‘Don’t think I am done with you and your expanding community, Sue,’ I sense God whisper. ‘This joyful gift-giving has My signature all over it, and I, my friend, am just beginning my hilarious generosity through you and your friends.”
“Thanks for being an essential part of God’s work with me,” I ended. “Happy Sabbath.”
“It was a real pleasure!” said her final text. “God’s peace be with you.”
Wow, what fun. I smile at the memory.
Why do I share with you this string of texts traveling between Washington state to Atlanta, Georgia? When I was at PAWkids on Tuesday, founder and director LaTonya Gates was talking about the blessing of the Christmas gift bags, how the senior citizens loved them and how there were enough bags left over to share with the women of two small black churches she visited at Christmastime. The ladies were amazed by the generous gift of God’s love.
“Do you think you and your friends could make more gift bags for our seniors for Valentine’s Day?” she wondered aloud. “This cold winter has been really hard on many of them, and I know they would enjoy another loving surprise.”
My heart leapt. The package of generous love that came from Vancouver one day late in mid December had beaconed us toward a time such as this. Here we are with another opportunity to show the love of God to the most vulnerable members of our community.
As Corinne Adams in hopped my car yesterday to drive to PAWkids to help students with homework, she and I brainstormed a wish list of gift items we might gather for Valentine’s bags, and we decided to host two magic-making work shifts at her art studio next week. If you feel nudged to be part of this Valentine’s Day PAWkids Project (donating items, donating money to help cover costs, or donating your time to assemble gift bags) please email me at the link below. I will reach out to you directly with details.
And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it (Philemon 1:6, MSG).
…Sue…
