most of the time when hard things happen we don't know why. but i like to ask. so today, i was wondering why those bags were stolen. i was wondering what is it that we're supposed to learn in this- that things don't matter? that perhaps the only thing that really needed to make it back to uganda were those shin guards that people pitched in to get for the guys football team? that theft happens all over the world? i don't exactly know, but i can say wow. i can say 'bad karma' or 'evil one' or whatever the energy is that causes bad things to happen- you can't hold a candle to the goodness that abounds. i can say that whatever loss there was in those 3 large bags of stuff- was more than made up for by the goodness that has surrounded us.
let me say that i am not discouraged, but so blow away and full of hope and faith in people and in God, even in this crazy, messy, broken place we all share.
after i posted about the car break in and the stealing of the stuff, more than 25 people responded with offers to help. not just 'i'm sorry', but 'really- what can i send and where'. i had tears and goosebumps. i had that feeling of, "i knew the world is still beautiful!" i had the feeling of being loved and held and cared for even from so so far away. i had the feeling that in this season of advent- this season about peace and love and hope-there still are some things that are peaceful and loving and hopeful.
we all matter. so. much. how we care for each other matters. the words we use matter. the way we connect and care and reach out matters. we are the hands and feet of God. we manifest the grace, we become the glue.
thank you for reaching. for writing. for praying and caring and offering and meaning it. because this is what Christmas giving is all about.
tonight when i put my boys to bed i told them that even thought things were gone, we were all okay, in fact better than okay, we are loved. i told them that people wanted to help and that people cared and that God is big and provides and 'see it's happening.'
when we said our prayers, we prayed for the person who stole our things. we forgave them. we asked that they would find beauty and love and God somehow through this, especially at Christmas time. we said 'thank you' for provision and family and friends and for kept promises and for the gift of feeling so loved by so many. for the gift of hope. the gift of faith. the gift of peace and of promise.
thank you all who've helped me see the good underneath the bad. thank you for showing us the goodness and love. thank you for helping us stay thankful. thank you for reminding us which gifts really matter at Christmas time.
let me say that i am not discouraged, but so blow away and full of hope and faith in people and in God, even in this crazy, messy, broken place we all share.
after i posted about the car break in and the stealing of the stuff, more than 25 people responded with offers to help. not just 'i'm sorry', but 'really- what can i send and where'. i had tears and goosebumps. i had that feeling of, "i knew the world is still beautiful!" i had the feeling of being loved and held and cared for even from so so far away. i had the feeling that in this season of advent- this season about peace and love and hope-there still are some things that are peaceful and loving and hopeful.
we all matter. so. much. how we care for each other matters. the words we use matter. the way we connect and care and reach out matters. we are the hands and feet of God. we manifest the grace, we become the glue.
thank you for reaching. for writing. for praying and caring and offering and meaning it. because this is what Christmas giving is all about.
tonight when i put my boys to bed i told them that even thought things were gone, we were all okay, in fact better than okay, we are loved. i told them that people wanted to help and that people cared and that God is big and provides and 'see it's happening.'
when we said our prayers, we prayed for the person who stole our things. we forgave them. we asked that they would find beauty and love and God somehow through this, especially at Christmas time. we said 'thank you' for provision and family and friends and for kept promises and for the gift of feeling so loved by so many. for the gift of hope. the gift of faith. the gift of peace and of promise.
thank you all who've helped me see the good underneath the bad. thank you for showing us the goodness and love. thank you for helping us stay thankful. thank you for reminding us which gifts really matter at Christmas time.
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