A Generous Gift

"All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:4


I come to you with these stories of God's people and their faithfulness to our family and to His calling on this journey to our boys. Each time, I am certain that I have seen Jesus in the face of the giver and I cannot wait to get back here and share the overwhelming mercy and faithfulness of God.

God began to weave this next thread into our tapestry in June of this past year. I know, it was June, because I met my new friend at our big yard sale fundraiser. I believe she contacted me on facebook after the event and we began to chat. She had been touched by our boys and had messaged me to let me know that she had collected money for us at her church. She wanted to know when I could meet her and what else she could do to help. This stranger, who from the moment I met her, exuded the awesome love of Christ.

My friend has had a rough year and even when her life must have felt in shambles, she came alongside our family and did anything she could to encourage and support us. It was one of my greatest griefs to learn that while I was in Eastern Europe meeting my boys, my precious friend walked through the most difficult season of her life. She waited til I was home to tell me that her husband was no longer living with them. Just weeks before Christmas, my friend suddenly found herself the single parent of two beautiful children, the sole provider, with no job, in a community who's jobless rate is tipping the scale at one of the highest in the country. My heart grieved with and for my friend. My kids and I were making weekly trips out to visit them. Did I mention she also home schools her kids?

I saw that when others would have felt beaten down by life, my friend still had JOY. She was ever clinging to her faithful, heavenly Father and He was making provision at every turn. It has been a great joy to Marty and I to witness God's faithfulness to our friend, to be a small part in caring for her and her children in this very difficult season.

So, yesterday, when my friend messaged me and wanted to meet when I came into town, because she had something to give me. It never entered into my imagination that when I went to meet my friend at the mechanic's shop (where she is getting an estimate to repair her broken car, so she can get to her new JOB in a few weeks, told you God is faithful) that she was going to hand me a card with an extravagant gift. I won't share the amount, because some of you know my sweet friend. It was an extravagant gift, because it was given from her need. My friend, who is struggling to find her way after being a stay-at-home Mommy for 10 years and suddenly finding herself on her own, is giving our family a gift.

I said, "This is too much."

She said, "I've been watching the ticker and praying that you wouldn't get funded before I had the chance to give." 

Seriously? I am humbled and grateful and more convinced than ever that the road less traveled is truly where we meet Jesus face to face.

I hope you continue to be blessed as we watch God faithfully provide for our boys to come home. The mountains continue to melt like wax in the presence of the Lord.

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy