Message From The Pastors

Heart Warming Moment at North

 

On December 28^th I was approached by a person that asked if we would be interested in being a drop off sight for a young single mother that had worked two jobs and saved her money for Christmas gifts for her son only to have had her house broken into and the person stole all of her son’s gifts and her jewelry. They stole their new TV and other things, even down to both hers and the little boy’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.  This story had been in the paper as well as on local WTAP as they were following this story each evening. 

I was asked by two different people if North would be interested in being a drop off sight to receive donations of monetary gifts, furniture, toys, etc.  They wanted this to happen on New Year’s Day from 3-6:30pm.  When asked I said, “I know we will do this because North cares for our community”.  Although this girl was a stranger to me I knew North would gladly help this young single mother with furnishings and monetary gifts. 

This was not how we had planned to spend our News Year’s day but after church and lunch, we had gone to the Friendship Kitchen to open it to be ready to receive gifts.  On meeting the single mother and her son our hearts melted.  The little boy was so precious and full of life and we knew then that this was the way we were to spend our afternoon. 

Many family members and guests of the community showed love for these strangers that they had never met.  They opened their hearts and love for this young family.  As the afternoon had gone on, people would come in and out – some with prayer and one particular lady came with a gift of money.  She had saved $50 and gave it gladly to this young mother.  The lady’s friends came in with their children and we got to talk and meet with them and entertain their children while the parents got to visit and receive gifts. 

WTAP crew came and set up their cameras.  Just as they completed their setup, a young couple with two children came in with a shopping bag full of gifts for the family.  They were asked if they were a visitor of North and they said no.   They had been following this story through the media and just wanted their children to help this young child.  As the cameras were rolling, the little boy dove into these gifts and put them close to his heart and the children were so happy to give these gifts and see this little boy.  The little children showed him how the toys worked and then they were on their way.  The child set for a long time to play with the gifts. 

In talking to the mother, I asked her if she attended church.  She said, “No, not for a long time”.  She asked me, “Looking at my child and seeing how energetic he is, would you think he would be able to sit and listen to an hour of your church service”?  And, I said, “he wouldn’t be sitting, he would be in a children’s ministry that takes care of young active boys such as he”.  She said, “I will come”.

As we were getting ready to close up, I ask the oldest boy of the two that had come earlier and stayed the whole time, her friend’s children, if he could use a pair of tennis shoes that we hadn’t given away at our Christmas luncheon at the Friendship Kitchen.  He enthusiastically said, “YES!” When I showed them to him, he said “Nike’s”! He put them on and they fit perfectly.  He was so proud.

Needless to say, our day was the best New Year’s Day we have had in a long time and we were so thrilled that we had said yes to this extra miracle in our life this season.  - \\

 

Susie Meredith