Hope is your heart's missionary

We partner with the Hope Clinic here in Nashville to provide shoes to their Bridge Program graduates, a program that provides mom's-to-be with information about parenting and childcare before their little one arrives.  We participated in our second Graduating class last night, presenting a small group of graduates, 3 to be exact, with a new pair of shoes and a first pair for their new babies to wear, along with some REALLY cool clothes from one of our Clothes4Souls donors, Mountain Mama

I watched the women's faces as I explained what we were there to do, provide them and their children with a pair of new shoes.  It was so gratifying to watch the excitement on their faces, to see their eyes light up as they held their tiny infant shoes and were able to pick out some comfy, cute athletic shoes for themselves.  Even more so, to see them happily choose some fleece jackets, vests and tees that are cute and stylish, that will grow as they "grow", courtesy of our donation from Mountain Mama. 

I didn't have time to take photos last night of the distribution.  But in my heart and mind are their faces, a little anxious, a little scared as they prepare for the biggest job of their lives: Motherhood.  But, the stress and the worry was quickly replaced hope, and joy, and excitement with a simple gift.  They know what the gift represents, as we explained to them last night, we care about them, we care about their life and the life of the child that is growing inside them. 

That is why we give hope, love, time, clothes and shoes. 

Because we care.

Shoes with Wings...

Yesterday, we distributed shoes to the men, women and children of the Atlanta Mission.  Some of our great friends from KIND snacks joined us to help, as well as several of the young men from Morehouse College in Atlanta.

We started around lunchtime in the Men's Mission, right in view of Centennial Park.  We were able to serve over 100 men in a two hour period.  Sweet souls who are trying, truly trying, to better themselves and live a clean life.  They were humble, thankful and excited.  I am always in awe of the fact that wherever I go and distribute our shoes, whether it is Antigua, Guatemala, or Atlanta, Georgia...there is a twinkle in their eye when they receive shoes. 

When we give someone a pair of shoes, yes, we are meeting a physical need, but more importantly, we are giving them the promise that the world has not given up on them.

I had a very interesting experience yesterday.  We were in need of a few more volunteers and we utilized 5 of the men in the program at the mission who are progressing very well.  They helped us organize the inventory and run shoes to the fitters also.  As the men's distribution progressed, they also helped fit!  They were given their shoes first, and it was so clear to me as they worked that they experienced so much joy in serving with us.  As we finished up, they asked about the Women's and Children's distribution that afternoon and wanted to come help.  We cleared it with the director, and our little motley crue went to Distribution #2 that afternoon. 

We set up quickly and began to fit the Women and Children, and I watched these 5 sweet men work so hard alongside the rest of us.  For one in particular, it was a chance for him to utilize his excellent customer service skills.  He had sold upscale men's shoes in the past, and I watched him in wonder as he gave everyone so much attention and care.  

It was amazing. 

Within the walls of the Mission, we were a group of people serving together, bonding with each other as we put our agendas aside and loved through serving. 

Outside of those walls, sadly, it is often a different story.

We equipped these men  yesterday, and it empowered them.  They were a part of something bigger than themselves.  As I drove back home last night, I thought of how powerful the day was.  If only we could equip everyone around us, give them the tools to soar, and then watch them fly.

A big job, yes.

But not impossible....

Somebody made us fly, why can't we do the same?

McGavock Elementary School Distribution with Soles4Souls

Check out this great video featuring Soles4Souls Distribution on December 15, 2011 at McGavock Elementary School in Nashville, TN!

http://youtu.be/5NY4eZs3sb8

One Word 365: Peace

This has long been one of my favorite words.  Over the last several years, I have fought for peace, and I am finally seeing the battle being won.  It is kinda nice...

I cherish this word.

Peace.  From the Latin "pax", which now makes me giggle, how God weaves His hand into the smallest thing.  My hometown is Paxville, SC... it means, "peaceful village"

This is my word, for 2012.  To remind me to seek peace in my relationships, to be at peace in my stillness and in periods of busyness as well, knowing that peace can carry me through.  Sometimes, to even keep my peace, because it can work just as well as giving someone a "piece" of my mind.  And to make peace, with myself, my past, and anyone or anything else that can hinder my peacekeeping mission in this life.

Peace...see, I even wear it around my neck.

 Isaiah 26:3 ^"You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you,  because he trusts in you."

Philippians 4: 6-7 "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

What is your OneWord?  http://oneword365.com/

My First Glimpse of Him.

My Aunt Cherry and Uncle Steve lived in, what felt like to me, the biggest and best house ever.  Their beautiful blue house sat on the corner of McLeod Rd and Hwy. 261, in Paxville, SC, on "Answer Acre".  It was named that because it was the answer to her prayers.  They never locked the back door, and there were always Beagle puppies loudly barking "welcome" when you pulled up the drive.

I remember going into the living room, the biggest and best living room ever, with built-in cabinets and bookshelves, and going to the lower cabinets for my two favorite books there, "Andrew Henry's Meadow" by Doris Burn and a picture book of the movie "Jesus of Nazareth", which came out in 1977, directed by Franco Zeffirelli.  I was mesmerized by that book, often looking at the pictures for a very long time.  I specifically remember the picture of Mary when the angel Gabriel came to her to announce that she would be the mother of Jesus, and the picture of Jesus as a young boy, in the temple.  I remember his beautiful, pure eyes.

My Aunt Cherry gave me that book a few years ago, which was so very special to me, and also an honor.  She didn't give her books away, she practically had a library, with her name in the front cover of most.  But, she knew how much I loved that book.

She left this world last month, way too soon.  She spent over 1/5 of her life fighting an illness and complications that no one could fix.  She was even given two new lungs, through a literal miracle, and so her life on this earth was prolonged by that.  She died peacefully at home, on her Answer Acre, surrounded by her family.

I have thought about her life a lot in the last few weeks, and just the other week, I realized that my Aunt Cherry gave me something far more special than that book.  She gave me my first glimpse of Jesus.

My first introduction to the Savior of my soul was not in the pew of a church, but on the living room floor of her house, as I gazed in wonder over pictures of the Son of God even before I could read a word on the pages.

So, thank you Aunt Cherry.  Thank you for many things.  For teaching me about my roots.  For reminding me that I should always wear a slip with my dress.  Thank you for your pound cake recipe (even though I butcher it every time).  Thank you for the way you led the choir every Sunday, holding out the note longer than everyone else singing (I would love to hear you sing now).

But most of all, thank you....for my very first glimpse of Jesus.