"Bear Hugs Brigade": the beginning

As you can see, it’s been a few months since that last post. I admit that after posting the news of Liam’s passing, it was difficult to find anything to post about that didn’t seem trivial. I have decided to post now to tell you about a new venture that God has been dealing with me to bring to fruition. For quite some time, I have felt in my soul that I need to do something charitable that has to do with children. I have supported “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer” and World Vision for over a year now. I would love to be able to do more to help “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer” as I feel that it is a wonderful and deserving organization, but I don’t really know how to go about organizing a huge bake sale. So, I will continue to contribute to them personally until I can figure that one out. I am thrilled to be the sponsor of two adorable World Vision children, Panashe and Luyanda. It is so rewarding knowing that I am helping to make a difference in the lives of these two precious children half a world away. However, I have still been feeling that there is more I need to be doing. I have thought about volunteering at Children’s Hospital or maybe even Ronald McDonald House (and those are still options I am considering).

But, as I sat watching TV the other night, God spoke to my heart (through an Allstate commercial, of all things) and showed me the answer for which I have been searching. Teddy Bears. Yes, I said Teddy Bears. In the Allstate commercial, Dennis Haysbert talks about how Allstate has distributed several hundreds of Teddy Bears to children who have been affected by the recent tornadoes that have devastated large portions of the South. As he spoke those words, God spoke to me. He told me that there are many kids in the area who are facing and will be facing very difficult times. Difficult times that no adult should have to face, much less an innocent child. In those difficult times, a child often needs something comforting on which to focus their attention. They need a friend. To many children, some of their best and most-trusted friends come in the form of Teddy Bears. I remember as a child that mine sure did. I had a ton of Teddy Bears and I remember that before Super Powers and Masters of the Universe toys came along, they were my favorite things! Because of this, I know from experience the comfort and happiness that a Teddy Bear can bring to a child. So there you have it…..Teddy Bears, that’s what God told me I need to use as my tools to make a difference in the lives of children in need. Since that realization, I have been praying that the Lord would guide me to do what I need to do and He has been showing me a lot of things. That is why I am proud to announce the birth of the “Bear Hugs Brigade”, an organization that will “help bring smiles to children during difficult times”. I am going to be delivering Teddy Bears to children who are facing illness or some other difficult or tragic event. I believe I have found a wholesale distributor online where I can get quality Teddy Bears at a very reasonable rate. The first shipment is on its way and should be here in a few days. I am hoping and praying that they will be of good quality, and I am trusting God that they will be. My plan is to stock up and have them ready when the need arises. I am hoping to be able to have friends and family be able to contact me when they know of a child in need. At that point, I will be able to deliver or ship the Teddy Bear to the child. I am making my first delivery on Friday, a special bear to a special little boy named Eli. I am so excited to have this opportunity.

So, I am asking all who read this blog post to remember me in prayer. I really feel a burden in my soul to do this. Hopefully, I can help to make a difference in the lives of these precious children, even with something as small as a Teddy Bear. I have set up an e-mail account to take requests ( bearhugsbrigade@yahoo.com ) and plan to set up a Facebook page after I make sure the quality of the bears I have ordered is acceptable. I will keep you posted on that in the next few days. Please feel free to contact me if you know of a child who needs to have a new Teddy Bear friend. Thanks to each of you for your prayers!