|
Northrop Grumman
Profile Page
Job Opportunities for
Disabled American Veterans
| |
HAPPINESS: NOT AS ELUSIVE AS YOU THINK
by Marsha Jordan
I've always cared about sick children and have tried to help them. When my little grandson
received third degree burns, I learned firsthand how helpless a loving adult feels when
their little one is suffering and they can't take away the pain.
My experience helps me to empathize with parents who write to me daily about their sick
children. One Mom told me that she felt like running out into the street and screaming,
"My child is sick. Won't somebody please help us?" It breaks my heart that these
parents are so desperately
searching for SOMEONE to care and to help them as they helplessly watch their child
suffer.
I decided to BE THAT SOMEONE and do as much as I could. I discovered how MUCH I CAN do,
even though I'm disabled. Maybe the fact that I AM disabled has allowed me to do so much.
I have the time that most people don't. And I have the ability to understand what it's
like to be sick, frustrated, afraid and lonely.
My misfortune has become an asset in this situation.
Two years ago, due to complications of an autoimmune disease, I lost my eyesight.
Fortunately, I regained some vision, but I was no longer able to work. Suddenly I had a
lot of time on my hands. At first, I went through a depression and felt that my life was
empty and meaningless. Because I could not do any of the things I used to do, I believed
that my life had no purpose and I wasn't much good to anybody anymore.
God had other ideas!
I belonged to several online prayer chains and received daily emails requesting prayers
for sick children. I decided to post their stories and pictures on a web page in order to
network with others who wanted to help these kids, too.
In August of 2000, the Hugs and Hope Club for sick children was born.
What began as a hobby mushroomed into a full-time ministry. Since my website launched in
October of 2000, I've received dozens of emails each week from distraught parents begging
me to put their child's story on my site. I now have over 250 volunteers who have signed
up to receive updates on the children and to send them "happy mail."
The website features children from all over the world and receives hundreds of hits each
day. It also features a message board so that families of the sick children may
communicate with each other, sharing ideas and
encouraging one another.
Before I began this project, the long, lonely days dragged by. Now, I avoid depression by
looking beyond myself; and there aren't enough hours in the day to do all that I want to
do for these families. I spend many hours each day on the Internet sending encouraging
emails to parents, creating webpages for the children's stories, updating the volunteer
letter writers and emailing organizations asking them to help families of children like
Nathan. He and his little brother both have the fatal Batten's Disease. Their parents are
desperately trying to raise the $100,000 they need each month for medical treatment to
save their boys.
It really is true that when God closes a door, He opens a window. That's what happened to
me. God's plan for my life is unfolding in wonderful ways. Trusting Him to guide us means
being willing to let our journey carry us to the destination HE intends.
I thought when I became disabled I would no longer be able to accomplish anything
worthwhile. NOW, I believe that I'm doing the MOST worthwhile work of my entire life. I
heard it said once that we are the wire and God is the current. We experience power when
we let His current pass through us.
By letting go of what I wanted to do and letting God do what He wanted to accomplish
through me, I allowed liberating power into my life. Instead of feeling bad about what I
can no longer do, I concentrate on helping others and glorifying God in each little thing
that I CAN do. I do the best I can and leave the rest to God.
You may have a lot of problems of your own. If so, the best thing you can do is forget
about them and focus on someone else's problems. I read somewhere once, "pain is
inevitable, but misery is optional." Sure you will have pain, but you don't need to
wallow in it. You don't have to be miserable, no matter what your situation. When you take
your mind off of it and concentrate on bringing joy to others, you will feel great! When
your focus is on bringing happiness to others, without even realizing it, you bring
happiness to yourself.
I've found that I can spend most of my monthly disability check on gifts and the postage
to mail them to sick children. I don't mind because I enjoy it! However, these kids need
so much more than the small gifts I can send. They need the prayers and help of people
around the globe. My mission has become to spread the word of their plight to anyone who
will listen.
I pray that people will open their hearts to these suffering, innocent little ones.
The response to my meager effort has been phenomenal. Musicians from around the country
have contributed tapes and CD's of children's music and organized benefit concerts.
Publishers and authors donate children's books. Quilters and sewers make hand made quilts,
angels, and teddy bears and
youth groups work together and send out hundreds of hand made cards.
Opportunities to help others present themselves every day. Don't let them pass by! God
wants us to use our talents, whatever they are. Anyone can help a sick child in some way.
Whatever your ability, you can use it to benefit suffering children or their families.
Whether it's creating graphics
for a website, organizing benefits to raise medical funds, or just sending an encouraging
note to a discouraged parent or a Barney video to a child undergoing chemotherapy -- It
all helps. It truly makes such a difference in the lives of these children.
The secret to happiness is that when we commit ourselves to giving to others, joy sneaks
up on us and peace comes naturally.
One of my favorite quotations is from Bernie Siegel, "Love is deep involvement with
another. If you say that you don't get back as much as you've given, then you are not
really loving. Love doesn't measure. It just gives." By offering the gifts of love
and joy to others, we fill our own hearts with them too! Love and happiness remind me of
sticky peanut butter. When you spread them around, you always end up getting some on
yourself. If you want to spread a little love and joy, log on and visit the Hugs and Hope
Club today. I guarantee you can't help getting some on yourself, too!
Marsha Jordan, a grandma disabled by an auto-immune connective tissue disease, lives in
northern Wisconsin with her husband of 26 years and her toy poodle, King Louie. She enjoys
entertaining, decorating with antiques, rubber stamping, and playing with her three year
old grandson, Cobi. Her HUGS AND HOPE CLUB has won several awards for exceptional
achievement in helping children, and Marsha was named "Angel of the month" by
Her Planet.com. The Hugs and Hope club will be featured in the book "GOD ALLOWS U
TURNS" due to come out in October, 2001. The program relies upon the support of
individuals and organizations: the people who write to the children as well as those who
donate to the cause in other ways. Interested sponsors or those wanting to learn more
about the program
are encouraged to visit the website at http://www.hugsandhope.com
|
