Handmaidens - Work Issues

Work Issues

Topics

Working Is Working
By Iona Hoeppner
The fact you don't draw a paycheck doesn't always mean you're not working. Volunteerism has become more popular lately and I'm glad to see it. Like me, a handicap may make you "unemployable," but that doesn't mean you can't be useful. You can "work" at helping others. Retired folks are a great source of volunteer help. Folks are living longer, healthier lives and don't want to spend the extra years sitting on the porch. And those with busy lives, jobs and families are also finding time for serving God by serving others.... read on.

Cover Page
Christian
Comedy
Education
Essays, etc.
Home
Marriage
Stewardship
Parenting
Poetry/Art
Sites to See
Work
Extra

Angel Hugs
By Staff Writer Marsha Jordan Executive Director of Hugs and Hope

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 for sure, but I have encountered some "earth" angels who are just as beautiful as any heavenly spirit could be.

There's my friend Eileen in Illinois who tirelessly keeps records of hundreds of sick children, sending out weekly updates on their status to a network of volunteers across the country. After working all day and caring for her family, Eileen creates beautiful blankets which raise money for toys sent to homebound children. Eileen may not have wings, but she's an angel in my eyes.

Across the country, on the East coast, a forty-something preschool teacher, 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 others 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 Oklahoma, there’s Fred, a quadriplegic who spends many hours each day typing uplifting messages to lighten 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.

Autumn, in Idaho, packs a lot of love into each box of goodies she mails to hospitalized children. She boasts no supernatural powers, but the smiles she provides are nothing short of miraculous.

In Florida, Cathie moderates a chat group which is really a lifeline for weary parents to find encouragement, bask in acceptance and understanding, and make lasting friendships. Though she has no halo, Cathie is an angel to hundreds of chatters who depend upon her technical skills.

In New Jersey, Terresa, a busy mom of two little girls, organizes fundraisers which pay for beanie bears, balloon bouquets, and books for sick kids who look forward to receiving "happy mail."

These heavenly folks are just a few of the 2,500+ members of the Hugs and Hope Club -- a group of the most caring, selfless angels this side of heaven. They are ordinary people, linked by the Internet, who are accomplishing extraordinary things through their combined efforts. The club is seeking more hope-restoring earth angels to join them in spreading love (and a little heaven on earth) to sick kids and their families -- one smile at a time. To become a Hugs and Hope angel, all you need is a caring heart and the desire to share your love. To learn more, visit the Hugs and Hope web site.

Graphics, Design & Hosting by Web4Christ Ministries