12daysofkindness_600

When I woke up this morning I had no idea that I would find myself apart of something much bigger than myself.

There is no doubt in my mind that today ranked among the busiest for the year 2008. I was taking phone calls left and right. Doing this and doing that. I even had to help install an oven. (Yes I said oven)

I had to drive to a warehouse and pick up 20 computer monitors for my building. When I returned to work it was “out with the old and in with the new”. I was so busy I didn’t even have time to eat lunch. By the end of my day I was exhausted. I wanted desperately to go home and dissapear under the covers but I had to pick up some last minute gift wrap so I headed over to Sears.

My quick in and out ended up being a two hour visit. As I was headed home, I checked my cell phone I noticed I had 5 missed calls! As I hit voicemail my phone rang again and my friend Patrick was on the other line. It was 5:30 pm. He was just making sure I didn’t forget about the Toys for Tots event I volunteered for tonight.

As much as I wanted to play it off, I had to be honest and confess that I totally forgot. I drove home as fast as I legally could, dropped off a few things and headed out to my event. Surprisingly I made it on time. When everything was done and just as I was getting ready to head back home my friend Patrick added something else to my plate.

In one of the Toys for Tots vans were toys purchased for a family who was having a financial hardship this holiday season. He said the toys were for four girls and needed to be wrapped by 8:30 am the following morning. Having spent a full day in the office I could tell he needed help and wanted to catch up on some sleep himself. I told him give me the keys to the van and I’ll take care of it.

When I got home, I opened the van and looked inside. There were toys everywhere!! I saw three rolls of wrapping paper and NO scotch tape! It was at this moment that I started stressing out and realized what I really got myself into. I hadn’t even had dinner and I had a van full of toys to wrap. I immediately called my good friend who lives nearby. She just had surgery for skin cancer the day prior.

I said “It’s me! I’m coming over to see you and I need lots of tape.”

Her husband opened the door and all I could mumble out was “Help Me!!”.

He walked to the van, scratched his head and said bring the toys inside. Once inside, my friend made her way downstairs and my mouth practically fell to the ground. She had bandages all around her head and her face was swollen. She walked in to her garage and brought in a box of wrapping supplies. A huge box that was full of everything. She was a crafter!!

That evening, the three of us stayed awake till midnight wrapping presents. My friend hurt so bad that she would take breaks and lay on the couch. When she couldn’t wrap gifts she wrote the names of the girls on the gift tags. I was in complete awe of her and openly expressed my appreciation. She is remarkable and found joy in wrapping presents for a unexpecting family while putting up with immense physical pain.

I didn’t want to take any chances of not waking up on time the following morning so I dropped off the van at 1 am. I didn’t get any sleep that night. I was too excited thinking about the family that was going to be receiving all the toys we just wrapped.

I could have easily said “No Thanks” to my friend Patrick – but I didn’t.

Most people would have said I need to go to bed or I need to eat but I took on the challenge. All I could think about were the four little girls.

There is more to this story and the next morning I found myself weaved into one of God’s delightful plans. Today, I gave up my own comforts for another family.

I was miserably tired, extremely hungry but amidst everything functioned with happiness.

God gave me the strength I needed.