Good morning…
When the founder and director of PAWkids asked me and the women connected to our church family to create one hundred Christmas gift bags for the seniors in the poverty-stricken Grove Park neighborhood of our city, my heart leapt! What a sweet hands-on way to give, to create, to joyfully join hearts with our expanding community. I absolutely love the fact that the policemen in the area will personally deliver these bags, deepening their bond of trust with the seasoned folk in this needy neighborhood.
I texted my parents in Ohio, ages 83 and 84, and asked them what they thought seniors might enjoy in a gift basket. “Shampoo, kitchen towels, grocery store gift cards,” came their first reply. “Various greeting cards, candy,” my dad later added with a photo of half eaten peanut butter cups.
Then my partner in creative magic-making, Corinne Adams, began texting all of her fabulous ideas. We set up two work sessions at Corinne’s art studio with the six or seven women who happily volunteered to help, today, Wednesday 12:30 to 3:30 pm and tomorrow, Thursday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. We are asking for anyone interested to donate gift bag items. Scarves. Journals. Candles. Decorative napkins. Handkerchiefs for the men. Jewelry for the women.
“People could also bring small lotions, shampoos, little kleenexes, mints, snacks, cologne,” Corinne added and the avalanche of ideas continued to pour out. “Small note pads, pens, gloves. Nuts, combs, brushes. I’m headed to the Dollar Store now,” she explained.
“From Goodwill, I have just gotten a bunch of ‘fresh flower catchers’ – small, colorful glass bottles that people can use to cut greens and wildflowers,” I continued our roll. “Also a ton of ‘quiet time candles’ to go with all the scarves I have collected to share. I am going to write up Scripture verses to include in each bag, as LaTonya requested.”
Then the fun expanded wider. “Sue, my hobby is beading and lately I’ve been drawn to making crosses,” texted a woman named Sandra. “This might not work for y’all time wise, but I could ship UPS overnight if you need some necklaces. I probably have a couple dozen.”
“Oh, Sandra, that would be wonderful!” I replied with my address. “If you don’t mind me asking where are you from and how did you get connected to our written word community?”
“I am from Vancouver, Washington,” she texted, “and a friend from your church connected us. Will ship lots of necklaces tomorrow. I have an abundance of crosses and chains my stepmom left me upon her death in June. We used to bead together and give sales to churches and scholarships. She would be delighted!”
“I love that you are sharing a loving form of art that your stepmom passed on to you,” I smiled with my texting fingers. “We will put these into the bags for the seniors and God’s loving magic will multiply! Thank you for joining in the joy!”
Then came love from another unexpected place. “I am an old member of your church,” she wrote. “We live in Dawsonville now so I am unable to come help with the PAWkids gift bags but I would like to donate. Corrine is a very dear old friend of mine. Is there a way to donate directly to this project?”
“You can donate through my website,” I explained. “Touch on the Gratitude Gift link, donate your desired amount and indicate that it is for the PAWkids Christmas bag project. We will use your donation for this magic-making adventure for the seniors in Grove Park. Does that sound like a good plan to you?”
“Perfect, thank you,” she texted before she offered her generous donation.
Wow. What a fun snowball of love is powerfully growing right before our eyes. When God births an idea, God makes it happen in incredibly unpredictable, expansive ways.
Now as I prepare for today’s magic-making session at Corinne’s studio today, I go through my closet and gather more of my beloved scarves. I don’t need these warm layers as much as the Grove Park seniors do. I joyfully give away some of my favorites, a simple sacrifice that warms me in new ways.
Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity! (2 Corinthians 9:7, TPT).
…Sue…
P.S. If you feel drawn to be a part of this magic-making project, please bring yourself and/or your donations to Corinne Adam’s art studio in the back yard of Sardis Methodist Church, 3725 Powers Ferry Road, one block north of the Piedmont-Roswell Rd. intersection. It’s the biggest gray building next to the cemetery.
We happy elves will be there today, 12:30 to 3:30 pm, and tomorrow, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
