Blog

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

We recently encountered a waitress named Blossom. Blossom greeted us and served with such love. You know, some people just have it flowing out of them. What a difference people like Blossom make. Change can never truly happen without love and we are so blessed to meet people like Blossom.
Sometimes we go through life and are blinded by things. Have you ever experienced someone special in this way? Waiting on people can be a tough job but what respect and admiration we have for people like Blossom. Her mother truly named her appropriately. As Jonah told her “The Lord has a special place in heaven for people like you”.

Go out and show love, be loved and let love blossom. It will make the world a better place.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

To us much has been given. Through our community and church we have been blessed. I have asked myself lately, what has Hearts for Hadley been doing? We often give updates on Hadley but we have not in regards to the giving of Hearts for Hadley.

Beki and I recently faced the reality of giving at a recent clinic visit. As Hadley was playing and nurses calling her name, I noticed someone watching and looking in curiosity. The clinic visit went on and we went about our daily grind of treatment, just like all the other families that day. After an already emotional treatment that all families face, a couple approached Beki and I. They said, are you Hearts for Hadley? OH MY…. OH MY GRACIOUS GOD… At that moment we were faced with a reality that we have never faced. Beki and I were faced with a family that Hearts for Hadley had fed. The emotions poured as we shared stories of struggles, faith and caring for each other. Each family may share the struggle of a child facing Leukemia but each family is unique and each story is unique.

Beki goes about her day on autopilot sometimes. Administering treatment to Hadley and responding to the requests from East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. These requests for help are not always Leukemia in nature, they have grown to more. I am so grateful for this family that approached Beki and I. Oh, so grateful… It turns the autopilot off and makes for a much needed reset. A reset that makes you aware of the reality of what has happened and what is happening. Through the help of our community and church Hearts for Hadley has now fed over 40 FAMILIES in the last year. Over 40 families….That is over 3 families per month. Beki and I are so blessed to serve you, families and a loving God.

I challenge us all to not leave the autopilot on too long. God can always give you a reset but you can also. The advantage of autopilot can allow you to function without emotion and sometimes that is much needed. Let us not let it distance us from God or family. Allow yourself to have emotions, real emotions. Allow to love and be loved. Allow to serve and be served. Through a loving God and his people, anything is possible.