HUGS, HOPE and PEANUT BUTTER (standard:non fiction, 2206 words)
Author: Marsha	Added: Mar 15 2002	Views/Reads: 3291/2396	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
When I became disabled, I thought I couldn't do anything worthwhile anymore. I was very wrong. Now I'm doing the most worthwhile work of my life!

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diseases. I trust God to use my efforts to accomplish His will in the 
lives of people who need Him. 

Several months ago, using the prayer of Jabez as my example, I began
asking God to increase my responsibility and opportunities to witness 
for him. I prayed that He would lead me to do only that which was His 
will, and that He would give me the strength to carry it out. I asked 
Him to lead me to the people He wanted me to serve and to show me His 
will. Immediately, the Hugs and Hope Club's growth exploded 
exponentially. I'm amazed at how appealing a simple ministry of 
friendship and kindness is to people. I can hardly keep up with the 
hundreds of emails I receive daily requesting to be part of the group. 
This validated for me that Hugs and Hope was indeed a ministry given to 
me by God. Radio programs, magazines, and internet newsletters call for 
interviews. God has given me the opportunity to speak for Him to 
hundreds of people. This is ironic because I am not talented at all in 
this area. It's funny how God calls us to (and enables us to) do things 
we wouldn't normally think of on our own. I am humbled at the awesome 
responsibility He's given me. It's an honor and privilege to be used by 
God to help people. I am an ordinary person with no special talents 
except that I care about sick children. Yet God can use my passion for 
Him and for kids to convey His message of Love to not only those 
children and their families, but to all the people I come into contact 
with. I'm so grateful that He allows me to be part of His work in these 
lives. I benefit as much as they do, as I've made many wonderful 
friends. 

I've learned many valuable lessons through my work with the Hugs and
Hope Club. For instance, everyone has problems; but the best thing we 
can do is forget our own troubles and focus on someone else's struggle. 


I read somewhere, "pain is inevitable, but misery is optional." Sure we
all have pain, but we don't need to wallow in it. We don't have to be 
miserable, no matter what our situation. 

Many of the wonderful Hugs and Hope volunteers suffer with serious
illnesses, financial struggles, or family problems. Yet, instead of 
focusing on their troubles, they encourage others. When you take your 
mind off your problems and give joy to others, you find contentment! As 
you focus is uplifting others, you experience peace and happiness 
yourself. 

God can accomplish tremendous things with our smallest efforts. I've
done little myself, yet the Hugs and Hope Club accomplishes much as a 
group. God uses my meager effort to gather others who have talents I 
lack. We work together with phenomenal results. Musicians contribute 
music for children and organize benefits. Publishers and authors donate 
books, sewers and knitters make blankets, dolls, and teddy bears. Youth 
groups create and send hundreds of cards. Individual efforts may not 
seem like much, but the cumulative effect of the group is remarkable. 
After posting one child's story on the web site, her bank fund 
increased by thousands in one week! 

More lessons learned: One person CAN make a difference in this world. I
was shocked to discover God was using me to accomplish something 
worthwhile, but I shouldn't have been surprised. God has a purpose for 
every life. Everyone can contribute something meaningful. You don't 
need to HAVE a lot in order to GIVE a lot. God gives us unique talents 
to use according to His plan. There are many ways to serve God. And 
serving Him is a joy, not a burden. You know you are doing God's will 
when it is such a source of pleasure that you can't NOT do it! I've 
tried to cut back on the time I spend working with Hugs and Hope Club 
families, but when I turn my focus elsewhere, I receive countless 
requests begging me to continue Hugs and Hope because it's such a 
blessing to so many. Though I try other endeavors, I'm unable to resist 
the pull from sick children. I feel compelled to invest time in this 
ministry. I believe it is what I am meant to do. When you're engaged in 
what you are meant to do, time disappears. You put forth great effort, 
but there is no struggle. You do it not because you have to, but 
because you can't tear yourself away. It is a joy to pour your heart 
into it. 

When The Hugs and Hope Club began, I was praying for one little boy
named Michael. Before long, it was twenty children. Now it's over a 
hundred. The web site started as one page. Now it's over 150 pages. The 
volunteers suggest and carry out wonderful projects for kids like 
sending pillow cases, blankets and tote bags filled with activities to 
hospitalized children. Some crochet angels to remind the kids that God 
sends his guardian spirits to watch over them. Other volunteers make 
bibs for babies and WWJD bracelets for older kids. We send out get well 
balloons, birthday boxes, Christmas stockings and ornaments. The 
outreach of the group grows daily. God causes the increase. 

Whether you excel at organizing projects, creating web page graphics,
writing encouraging notes, or even if all you can do is mail a Veggie 
Tales video to a hospitalized child, it ALL makes a difference and it 
can influence people for good. 

It's my prayer that through the Hugs and Hope Club, hurting people will
know the awesome love, peace, and joy available to those who seek and 
serve God. Our message is that no one must face struggles alone. God 
cares about our pain and desires to be intimately involved in our 
lives. He is able and desires to help help us through trials. 

The "fruit" of the Hugs and Hope Club is that many families are turning
to God for the encouragement and strength they need. Some of these 
families have no friends and no relatives to lean on and the volunteers 
of the Hugs and Hope Club are all they have in this world. 

Many of these moms and dads suffer from depression and the support
received from Hugs and Hope volunteers has literally saved their lives. 


The joy that God bestows when you share His love is more rewarding than
anything else in this world! I love this quote from Bernie Siegel, "If 
you say that you don't get back as much as you give, then you are not 
really loving. LOVE DOESN'T MEASURE. IT JUST GIVES." 

God is good. No matter how much you give of yourself, He always gives
you back more. Love and happiness are like peanut butter. When you 
spread them around, you can't help but end up getting some on yourself! 


**************** 

The Hugs and Hope Club ministry, designed to share God's love and His
Word with families of critically ill children, has won several awards 
for exceptional achievement in helping children. 

Founder Marsha Jordan was named "Angel of the month" by HerPlanet.com
and was honored by being named one of The Phenomenal Women of the Web. 

The Hugs and Hope Club motto is Jeremiah 29:11 

"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 

Plans for welfare and not for calamity, and to give you HOPE and a
future." 

Visit the Hugs and Hope Club's web site at http://www.hugsandhope.com 

Join Us! Together we can make a difference ONE SMILE AT A TIME! 

* * * * * * * * * 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Marsha Jordan grew up in a suburb of Chicago. Now a disabled grandma,
she lives in the northwoods of Wisconsin with her husband of 26 years 
and their toy poodle, King Louie, who rules the household with an iron 
paw. Once an active volunteer in many scouting, school, community and 
church activities, Jordan was an energetic homeschooling mom who also 
worked as a secretary until her life took a sharp turn. Her busy 
schedule came to a screeching halt when she fell victim to an 
auto-immune disease which struck her blind for several months. When she 
encountered this roadblock, God steered her into a U-turn, and she 
continued full speed ahead in a new direction. Through her Hugs and 
Hope Club, Jordan shares a message of hope and love. It is her earnest 
prayer that hurting people will come to know the awesome love, peace, 
and joy available to those who seek God and serve Him. Jordan enjoys 
creating web pages, collecting and decorating with antiques, rubber 
stamping, and having fun with her three year old grandson, Cobi, who is 
the light of her life. She's been published in 29 online newsletters 
and ezines including Heart Warmers, Power to Share, and Warm Fuzzy 
Stories. 


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