So, in my last post, I said I was going to give away a jacket on Friday when I was out and about... and then give away jacketS on Saturday with one of my bestie's who was in town!
It turned out very interesting. I'm new at this so... I really, really, really have to depend on God. I don't know where to go... who not to offend... etc. And, come to find out, I have to learn to LISTEN too.
Friday, it was SO cold... 30 degrees WITH the wind chill made it about 20+.
I'm driving down a main street and I look over and this guy is one of those "wave your arms and sign to direct your attention to a business" guys... and he has this very thin costume on and no jacket or gloves. His face and hands are bright red.
Come to find out, it was someone I knew. So, I give his step dad a call and leave a message... "Yeah, your step son it standing out on the street, working, FREEEEZING with no jacket or gloves on with red skin."
He called me later to thank me for the call... he was able to bring him a jacket.
Not that this is going to surprise you in the least... but... THIS WAS THE DAY I WAS GOING TO GIVE AWAY A JACKET!!!!!
I forgot.
So, after our friend called it dawned on me... OMg... I was supposed to give a jacket away today. But, instead, I called my friend to let him know. I'm so lame. I forgot.
I called our friend back and asked him if I could bring him a jacket, but come to find out, I didn't have one big enough to fit him and he, as he said earlier, had already done it. That made me feel a little less LAME! But, just a little.
DAY TWO... I'm a little more on the ball!
One of my bestie's from Nashville came all the way out to visit! So, I had done my homework and one of the families we delivered the tree and meal to, needed jackets. I got the right sizes... dug around in the generous pile of NEW jackets my mother in love bought for the "mission" and we were off.
We had BRAND NEW JACKETS for these beautiful people... AND BONUS... my friend speaks Spanish.
We got over there and they cautiously opened the door. Surprised to see us again, they pointed over in the corner, where the Christmas tree was still standing, and said it's so pretty they want to leave it up. (My thought was... well, a dried up tree doesn't belong in the kitchen... but that's just me. I leave burners on all the time on accident.)
We zipped the little girl up in her new jacket and I think she might have slept in it last night. She is the reason why, I probably will continue to go over there. She is precious... a little fireball... will do something amazing with her life... I can tell.
This was the interesting part. I, of course, don't know a lick of Spanish, so I'm standing there, like a dumb person, smiling, while my friend is talking away.
Come to find out the mom thought we were there with jackets to get her to join our Church. She had kept asking me where our Church was. And, my heart really was pure, come to find out, because I was thinking, we are here to bless you with jackets... not tell you where to go to Church.
I mean, why on earth would anyone just deliver jackets to those who needed them? We must have an ulterior motive. Right?
Sad.
I love my friend and she knows our heart. She said, "We are only here because God put your family on our heart to give you these jackets and He loves you. There is no other reason."
The lady was relieved and then we departed.
Again, sad.
Sad that we couldn't just GIVE a gift. She thought we wanted something in return.
I hope she really experienced that love from our visit. I hope she was sitting down later and thought about it and really just smiled.
People, myself included, have ruined the genuineness of just loving others, expecting nothing in return. My heart is changing for people. I don't feel like I expect anything when I give to others, however, I'm not sure. I'm loving giving it away... and walking away with a pure heart, that I had no other intentions. That feels good for sure.
And, that's what God has called us to do. People will know HIM... by our love. And, THAT is my ulterior motive. My prayer is that through loving others, without maybe even saying a word, they will know the powerful and amazing God Who created us all.
beINVOLVED... who knew that giving away a jacket or two or five, would cause so much revelation! I hope in the next five years, we will have books to fill with stories about how God loving us and us loving others... impacted SO many people and changed lives!
It's never too late to donate to any of our beINVOLVED causes OR let us know if you know anyone in Roswell that has a need! Go for it!