Makenna and her mom

I must share a delightful story with you today!  First, I have to back up a bit.  Our local Community Thrift Store has graciously become a sponsor for Nan's good will bears.  Cindy, the sweet lady at the store is my contact person.  She called me last week and invited me to come to the store and set up a table with bears on display and talk with the customers.  I went to the store on Thursday afternoon for about an hour.  She gave me a bag of teddies that the store donated.  The display was strategically located at the front of the store near the toys and stuffed animals.
Business was a bit slow that afternoon.  That being said, a young mother and her daughter browsed nearby.  The mom was paying close attention to a small wooden bed which held a brown Build a Bear teddy.  We engaged in a conversation about the bed.  All the while, I noticed her beautiful daughter with the long, flowing wavy blonde hair.  Makenna attends elementary school.  I don't know her exact age.
I asked Makenna if she would like to hear a story about teddy bears.  She grinned and nodded her head.  I began to tell her about the teddies and how I donate them to the hospital emergency room for sick kids.  She and her mom were very interested in learning more.  Suddenly I had an idea.  I asked Makenna if she would like to read my poem that the parents receive when the child is given the teddy bear in the hospital.  She appeared to be a very bright little girl.  She read the poem "Nan's good will bears" to me and her mom.  Her voice was soft and quiet as she carefully pronounced each word.  She touched my heart deeply as she read aloud my poem.  This experience was a very memorable and very special occasion for me, to say the least.
Makenna's mom said that they would look through the stuffed animals at home and see if they had some teddy bears they could donate to the cause.  The plan would be for them to drop off the teddies at the check out counter in the store.  When Cindy receives the bears, she will contact me to come get them.
The young lady and her beautiful daughter were smiling as they left the store and as for me, my heart burned with warmth and great joy.
We always have a choice in life.  Had Cindy not called me to invite me to come to the store, and had I not come on Thursday afternoon, I would not have met Makenna and her mother.  The opportunity would have been lost to hear the beautiful young child read my poem in the presence of her mom and me.  I sure do believe that by the grace of God we were brought together.  Remember, none of this is truly about me.  It's about relationships and lives being brought closer together with God in whatever way He sees fit.  He wants a personal relationship with each and everyone of us and if it is by way of a cuddly teddy bear, so be it.
Take care and remember that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Nan