You would think getting married somewhat later in life than most couples, Mike
and I would have been more established financially. However, neither of us
brought much to the marriage cash-wise. We had decent jobs but not much in
savings. Mike was your typical bachelor before our marriage; i.e., new car,
expensive furniture and stereo equipment, but no money in the bank! I had been
supporting an antique habit and a shoe addiction. But we were comfortable, and
enjoyed being able to contribute money to several worthy causes on top of our
tithe to our local church. God had truly blessed us, and we enjoyed sharing
those blessings with others.
Then the bottom fell out. Four months into our marriage, an uninsured driver hit
me. Then Mike's company closed its doors. My insurance was limited, and did not
cover home nursing care for me. Even with the help of our wonderful family and
friends, Mike had to stay home with me and missed out on several job
opportunities. Finally we were both able to go back to work, but our savings
were depleted, and debts had added up.
We knew eventually we would be back on our feet, and we were very grateful for
the physical healing that God had given me. God had really watched out for us,
blessing us not only with my physical healing but a deepening of our love for
each other and an awareness of all the wonderful people around us.
What could we give back? It was a struggle just to pay our tithe each week.
There was no money for anything extra. We stretched those pennies so far that
Lincoln screamed! Every time a need came up, we would empty our pockets, but it
was so little, and the needs were so great. We wanted so badly to share God's
goodness to us with others.
One day I received a check for just over $10, a rebate on an insurance
overpayment. I cashed it and brought the money home. I put it in an antique tea
tin I had on the shelf in the living room. Mike and I decided to start a fund
and let God tell us how to spend it. We prayed about this little fund, asking
Him to show us how our tiny sum of money could make a difference for Him.
The next week, a friend at work was very depressed. She was recently divorced
and feeling overwhelmed by loneliness. She didn't share much with us, but one
day as I was going down the hall I overheard her say, "I feel invisible, like no
one would even notice if I just suddenly disappeared." I went home to Mike, and
we prayed about it, and then decided we would put the $10 in a card to her.
Since she knew my handwriting, Mike addressed the card. We bought a little
encouragement card and wrote in a short note and signed it, "God loves you and
so do we. You make a difference!"
Not much of a gift, but when I saw my friend at work a few days later, she was
just bubbling. She had never shared anything personal with us at work, but
around the coffeepot that morning, she told everyone about the card and gift.
She said she treated herself and the kids to pizza with the $10 (this was ten
years ago!) And they had a little party for no reason. She said to us, "I felt
like God reached down and gave me a big hug!"
Thus began God's Hug Fund.
We would put in leftover change and money saved by using coupons. Occasionally
one of us would have a little overtime in our check, and we would pitch that in
the tin. Sometimes it would be Mike who would notice someone that needed "a hug
from God." Sometimes God showed me a person in need of a hug. We kept it
anonymous. We didn't always send a card, and we didn't always leave the cash,
sometimes we bought something and left it. Sometimes it was groceries for a
family having hard times. Sometimes it was something silly to get a laugh from a
grouch!
Through it all, we learned that you don't have to have a lot to give a lot. We
also learned the sweet blessing of giving in secret. When you give in secret,
God gets the credit He deserves. Without your pride and their pride getting in
the way, God has room to work!
While we are very grateful to be able to contribute financially to God's work in
a bigger way now, we still look for little ways to give out those hugs. The
neatest blessing to come out of all this is that we are also more aware of all
the little hugs God sends our way. Last week alone I received a smile from a
child; a thank you note; a great afternoon shopping with a friend; a free lunch
dropped off by someone who knew I was working through lunch at my desk, and help
from a neighbor carrying in the groceries.
Someone's tea tin must be empty! Because I think God emptied it out just for me!
Wishing you many, many hugs from God,
Cheryl luvbirds@ga.prestige.net
Cheryl Norwood is a big "2theheart" fan, and loves the many dear friends she has
made through reading the wonderful stories of others and submitting stories. She
works full time as a Staffing Supervisor for StaffMark, and is the proud wife of
Mike Norwood, who sells Jaguar car parts full time and plays guitar on the side.
The latest excitement in the Norwood house is that they recently won a trip to
the town of Tours, France in a contest and will be going there in October!
Anyone who has been to the Loire Valley in France, send your tips! They would
love to hear from you! (The prize includes six days and five nights lodging in a
chateau!).
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