ANGEL HUGS (standard:non fiction, 797 words)
Author: Marsha	Added: Mar 15 2002	Views/Reads: 3535/3	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Though they have no wings, they are gifts sent from above!

ANGEL HUGS 

Ever wonder what angels look like? Are they gray-haired women with
dangling earrings like Della Reese in the television show? Or do they 
resemble chubby, winged babies portrayed in paintings? I've never seen 
a spiritual being, so I can't say. But I have encountered some "earth" 
angels who are just as beautiful as any heavenly spirit could be! 

There's my middle-aged friend, Margaret in Oregon, who lovingly and
tirelessly cares for the brain-damaged crack baby she adopted. When he 
stops breathing due to seizures, she revives him with CPR. Many nights, 
as she sits up with him, she crochets afghans and sews quilts and tote 
bags for other disabled children. Margaret may not have wings, but 
she's an angel in my eyes! 

Across the country, on the East coast, a forty-something cancer
survivor, Jan, shares the strength and wisdom she gleaned from her 
battle with cancer. Understanding the terror of facing this disease and 
the joy of defeating it, Jan helps other patients wage their own wars. 
She gathers them under her wings and upholds them, traveling alongside 
them on their journeys. A gifted graphic artist, Jan also designs web 
art for sick children. Maybe she's not a real angel, but to those 
hungering for a listening ear and a hand to hold, Jan is a gift sent 
from heaven. 

In the Midwest, Mindy, a young, single gal, busily types away at her
computer. The hundreds of uplifting messages she sends lighten many 
hearts and restore hope to those weary of life's struggles. It's the 
tapping of a computer keyboard I hear, but it sounds strangely like the 
fluttering of angel wings. 

Sue Gene, in Louisiana, packs a lot of love into each box of toys she
mails to sick children. She boasts no supernatural powers, but the 
smiles she provides are nothing short of miraculous. 

In Texas, Tiffany moderates a chat group which is really a lifeline for
weary parents who vent frustrations, find encouragement, bask in 
acceptance and understanding, and make lasting friendships. Instead of 
a halo, Tiff has a southern accent, but she's an angel to more than a 
hundred chatters who depend upon her technical skills. 

In Massachusetts, full-time student and busy mom, Jenn, works with her
two school-aged children rubber-stamping cards for sick kids who look 
forward to receiving "happy mail." 

These heavenly ladies are just a few of the 500+ members of the Hugs and
Hope Club -- a group of the most caring, selfless angels this side of 
heaven. They are ordinary people who are accomplishing extra-ordinary 
things through their combined efforts. The club is seeking more 
hug-giving, hope-restoring earth angels to join them in spreading love 
(and a little heaven on earth) to sick kids and their families -- one 
hug at a time. All you need is a caring heart and the desire to share 
your love. To learn more, visit www.hugsandhope.com. 

########################### 

Author Marsha Jordan is a disabled grandma who 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. She knows how it feels to be sick, 
in pain, frustrated, and afraid. When she encountered this roadblock, 
God steered her into a U-turn, but she continued full speed ahead in a 
new direction. From her experience, she learned empathy which enables 
her to help others. She founded a nonprofit children's charity which 
has won many awards for excellence in helping children. Through her 
Hugs and Hope Club, Jordan strives to send a message not just to 
suffering families, but to all people that we don't have to face life's 
problems alone. God cares about our pain and desires to be intimately 
involved in our lives. He wants to help us through the struggles and 
have a personal relationship with each of us! Jordan likes to remind 
people that God has a plan for each life. No one is insignificant. And 
God can do great things with you, even if you lack great talent. It is 
her earnest prayer that, through the Hugs and Hope Club, 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 ezines and newsletters. 


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