A Tender and Loving Heart

Recently our daughter-in-law’s father had an employee who lost everything in an apartment fire.  The man’s daughter and young granddaughter live with him.  When Lori was told of the news, she immediately began going through Sawyer and Della’s clothes and shoes to find things to give to the little girl.  Four year old Sawyer asked if the little girl lost all her toys, too.  Upon finding the answer was yes, Sawyer asked if she could give the girl some of her toys.  I told her she could pick out 10 books.  She hurried to the play room and selected her 10 favorite books, not just any 10, to give.  We had a children’s nativity that we also included in the boxes.  Then Sawyer said she wanted the girl to have her Minnie Mouse and soft, cuddly, pink bear.  A little background…for Christmas Sawyer only asked for two things: a Minnie Mouse stuffed animal and a soft pink bear.  She has played with and slept with the two stuffed animals since receiving the gifts.  When questioned about if she knew they would no longer be hers if she gave them away she nodded yes.  Sawyer said she knew they would help the little girl be happy again.  Not once has she asked to have the stuffed animals or books back or to have them replaced.  That week Lori received a picture of the little girl, with a huge smile on her face, surrounded by her books, nativity, and stuffed animals.  When Sawyer saw the picture, her face lit up when she saw how happy the girl was with her new gifts.

God saw that we were in great need.  At just the right time, God sent his very best, His one and only son Jesus to be our Savior.  Because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we too have the opportunity to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and live in fellowship with Him both now and forever.

Oh, to have a heart that willingly desires to always give of my best.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Children’s children are a crown to the aged,

     and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:6

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8