As Zoe and I returned home this afternoon from a trip to the grocery, the first thing I noticed was a fruit basket sitting on the porch with a great big pink bow stuck on top and a card tucked under it. It was a thank you note and gift note from a woman Matt and I had just briefly met last week when she came to pick up Greta, her lost German shepherd. Greta had been under our care for the week before, when we had notice her coming around for a couple of days trying to eat the cat and dog’s food (Phoenix and Mobii) food and for good reason. After all, she was quite emaciated making it quite clear that she was far from home and had been for a while. However, even though we continued to feed and talk to her she always remained at a safe distance from us staying quite skittish, but didn’t seem to think twice about joining Mobii for afternoon naps on the back deck. Finally, after about a week of trying to encouraging her to come closer all in an attempt to get the info off her collar so that hopefully we could find her owner. We quickly found ourselves becoming quite fond of her and were saddened by the thought of her going home, but as soon as Matt called her owner, we couldn’t help but be excited for their reunion as Greta’s owner was so relieved and her joy spilled through the phone. She didn’t hesitate for a moment—she would leave work immediately, drive home to get the leash and be at our place within the next 15 minutes! And sure enough, there she was and filled us in on what had happened as well as her name, as we only knew to call her, “Come here girl.” It ends up that Greta had jumped the fence a month earlier and her owner had been looking for her everywhere—she even camped out one night in a stranger’s backyard where Greta had been spotted. She was diligent in trying to find her, but sadly to no avail. Speaking of sad, she had just cancelled all of Greta’s up and coming vet appointments (shots etc.) earlier this morning because she didn't think she was coming back. It was nice and reassuring to see that Greta was returning to a good home where she would receive only the best care and love that she deserved. Even though, after a week of gentle, but persistent persuading from both Matt and myself, Greta had only let us pet her this morning for the first time, yet by the time it was for her to go home, not even 4 hours later, she willingly welcomed all the loving she could get. It was amazing to watch her move from being so nervous and watching her back 24/7, to being so relaxed with us—even if it did take a lot of encouragement.
So what does this have to do with the1000 Words of Hope Project? A couple of things…
Change doesn’t start on the other side of the world in Africa. It starts in our own backyard.
I was also reminded that we must take every opportunity to error on the side of Love—you can never go wrong with that. Perhaps that means we extend love to our neighbor, a scared animal, our enemy, a stranger, the earth, our parents, our children, the clerk at the gas station, our spouse, sisters and brothers, and even ourselves. It was amazing to watch how a simple cup or two of dog food and a bowl of clean water, not only saved a life, but two hearts as well this weak. What we did was not heroic and it wasn’t a difficult decision; after all, how can you turn away a starving life even if it is four legged? It was really a pretty simple decision.
And one more thing, we thought that we were giving and nurturing Greta (even though at the time we did not know her name) and that is true. However, if anyone received anything this week it had to have been us because Greta's owner not only gave us a warm thank you with the basket and card, but also left a check for $200 towards our trip to Africa this fall! It blew Matt and I away that she was moved to such a gesture for pretty much complete strangers that she didn't even know our names and had to leave the payable part blank for us to fill in! This was so much more than a check, but an unexpected encouragement to Matt and I as we continue to put all of our eggs into the crazy idea of starting a non-profit basket. When I become anxious about all the details (remember I am the big picture—Vision person), I am reminded in my spirit that God is never late—not in some mushy, gushy way, but in a very real way. God seems to continually send moments along like these as if to remind our little family that we are exactly where we need to be and as long as we continue to make ourselves available to Him and use the gifts that He has given us, He will continue to provide.
It is so refreshing to meet such a wonderful and unassuming woman like Greta’s mom, who is so grateful that she without thought continues to pass along the same joy and kindness we all felt in our driveway that day. To that I say, thank you—your gesture was far more than mere money, but a genuine encouragement! And can you believe it, for all intensive purposes you were a mere stranger, but who is the first person to financially support this dream! How can I not look at that and see how God has orchestrated this idea, not Matt or myself, I am creative, but not this creative—we are simply a part of this idea and firmly believe that it will only be successful when others come to the table with whatever God has given them—w e are only a fraction of the whole. It seems clear to me that God has blessed this adventure, I mean don’t non-profit organizations usually have to beg for money? There’s something innately different about this project though. I have found that The 1000 Words of Hope Project seems to resonate with people from all walks of life who hear even a second of our mission. I think it is because the mission deals with such fundamental needs of the human spirit—to understand, to be remembered, to remember etc. that we feel it in our gut the rawness of these children’s realities and what they will not have if we don’t step up that we cannot help but to be provoked and compelled by it.
On a litter note and one more thing before I close, I want to say thanks for the fruit too—we always have fresh fruit around here and Zoe is very excited about the pears, they are her favorite. Also, please give Greta some love for us and let her know that Mobii misses her greatly.
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