In Margraten, Netherlands, a beautifully maintained 65-acre cemetery is the final resting place for 8,301 graves of American soldiers, who died in the war while liberating the Netherlands from the Germans. After the war, the land was gifted to the US. Each grave has been adopted by a local Netherland family. When other volunteers are needed, there are over 300 on the waiting list.
Needing gas money to make it to college orientation, an 18-year-old young man took his Fender Stratocaster to the pawn shop. After hearing the student’s explanation, the owner offered him $200 for the $600 guitar. With a shaky voice, he took the cash, looked at the guitar one last time, and left. The owner immediately put a tag on the guitar, “SOLD-DO NOT TOUCH.” For four years, the guitar stayed behind the counter. One day, a well-dressed young man, wearing a suit, walked into the shop and said, “I sold a guitar here years ago. I know it’s long gone, but…”. That’s when the man reached behind the counter, picked up the guitar, and replied, “It’s not gone. I was just holding it for you. $200 plus tax.” Puzzled the young man asked, “Why?” The man replied, “Because you don’t sell a dream. Sometimes you just have to hold onto hope for someone else.”
Paul Brittain owns Paul’s Tree Service in Fenton, Missouri. During the winter storm, an 85-year-old widow called and begged him to bring some firewood so she could be warm. Paul delivered the wood and gave it to her for free. In the process of assessing her needs, he also repaired her roof, fixed her AC and heating, and repaired her car. Brittain then raised $20,000, with help from the community, for any additional needs.
During these freezing days in Fort Worth, Texas, the HOPE Team went downtown to help rescue people in the homeless encampment. The people live under a bridge and down a steep embankment. Many were shoeless, without warm clothing, freezing, exhausted, and some were in distress. Louis Pantoja and other firefighters carried the people on their backs, up the steep ice- and snow-covered hill. Drivers then transported them to a shelter where they could warm up and recover.
Especially during these days, may our hearts and lives overflow in generosity.
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
