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My name is Chuck Charles and Chris asked that I share about my experience with last month's Be the Gift project. I had shared with him over dinner a few weeks ago that it was one of the most rewarding projects that I have worked on and told him the story of Ranger. Ranger is 6. I never got the story but Dad is no longer with Mom and she is trying to keep things around the house together.
We got there that morning to install a ceiling fan up in his room for the summer. Scott and I started working on it and Ranger was just everywhere with us. He was carrying a box and I didn't look to see what he had, but he had a crushing bear hug on that box. As Scott was up on the ladder and I was handing him various parts, I was also moving Ranger around some to keep him out from under the ladder and our feet. Finally he asked his Mom if we were going to hang his toy. She asked us and...how do you say no to a sweet kid who wants some toy put up. We finished the fan, and he was there ready for us. We opened that box and it was a ceiling mounted mobile that was the sun (a night light) and the rest of the planets in our solar system. He had many pictures in his room and loved learning about the solar system. His Dad knew this and had given him the mobile for Christmas. He had already waited 2 whole months and no one had put it up for him! So Scott climbed the ladder and Ranger helped me set up the bracket and the sun for him to mount on the ceiling. After Scott got it mounted Ranger and I matched the planets with the arms to let them circle the sun and handed them, one by one, to Scott to put in the mobile.
Just as we got to Pluto and were ready to finish, Ranger decided that he had to run to the bathroom. It was just fine with us, we kind of wanted to check the mobile and make sure it worked before he tried it. God is good at planning these little breaks for all of us!
We made sure it worked and here came Ranger, full speed, into the bedroom. We handed him the control, showed him how to operate it and let him turn it on. To say he was happy does not even describe his jubilation at having his Daddy's present mounted and ready to use. He relaxed on the bed and just watched those planets circle his sun after we finished. He was so excited, he thanked us both and then climbed back onto his bed to watch the planets orbit and just enjoyed being able to look at daddy's gift operating.
It is one of the greatest moments I have had with Be the Gift. It helped me realize that all we do, month after month, is not just for these ladies and kids that need help. It also nourishes our spirit and shows all of us that participate just what God's love means. We might lose a few hours of "personal" time because we choose to help, but the blessing of seeing the joy and happiness in a Ranger's face as he played with his solar system that he has waited forever to play with (at least in kid time) was just priceless beyond description. So everyone remember, keep volunteering to help because the real joy is seeing that happy smile and getting that big grin and thank you from some child, that will fill your heart to overflowing.
There are moments like these that God does not need to send a blessing down. The blessing is standing at your feet smiling at you.
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