The One Thousandth Teddy Bear

I am spending time this morning catching up a bit on the latest news of the teddy bear ministry.  The poem printed below is the one I included with the 1,000th teddy bear (including the original poem "Nan's Goodwill Bears) when I delivered it to the hospital on Sunday, July 22nd.

Before you leave this site, be sure to take a moment to enjoy the newest photos I've included for you, one of which is posted to the right of this message (that being me holding the 1,000th teddy).  The other two photos are shown below the printed messages. 

One of the ER nurses, Heather gets credit for the idea of getting the silver tag engraved for the bear indicating that it's the 1,000th teddy bear.  Great idea, Heather!  You'll see the photo of the silver tag with the engraving to the right and the photo of the bear is to the left.  Have a wonderful day!! Love, Nan

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The One Thousandth Teddy Bear

Written by Nan Forehand

July 22, 2012

God granted me a vision and I believed

So many blessings I have received

His promise, unbeknownst to me, of one thousand bears, began with one teddy

Eager to please – on His mark – get set, I was willing, able and ready

This twelve month journey, an absolute joy – never iffy

Each teddy cleaned head to toe – one and all looking mighty spiffy

To the hospital ER my teddies and I would happily go

All glory to God for His love and compassion to show

He prepares our blessings before we have a need

Most assuredly this ministry was blessed with Godspeed

To bring cuddly comfort to the little children is my heart’s desire

A life lived in service to the Lord is a life lived on purpose and on fire

No tellin’ how many more teddies the good Lord will provide

“Well done, my good and faithful servant”, I think He says, beaming with pride

Author's note: on July 22, 2011, I delivered the first two dozen teddy bears to the Iredell Memorial Hospital Emergency Department to be given to those little ones (and some bigger ones) in need of cuddly comfort.  Today, July 22, 2012, I will deliver another bunch of teddies to the hospital after I get out of church and these teddies being delivered today brings us to the total of 1,000 teddies provided to the hospital in the past twelve months.  This fact continues to amaze me!   Not that I am one bit surprised at how abundantly God has blessed what has become a ministry and has brought so much joy to so many, myself included! This ministry is called Nan's Goodwill Bears.  A poem of the same name is published in my poetry database at www.wordchimes.com.  The parents of the sick or injured child receive a copy of the poem to take home with them.  The teddy is given to the child to have and to hold in sickness and in health.  I hope you are encouraged and inspired to listen to the still small voice of God whispering in your ear to see His vision for your purpose and to get on His mark - get set - be willing, able and ready.  Trust me, you can't even imagine how wonderful your own life will be.

Love,

Nan 

 "Kindness in words creates confidence"


"Kindness in thinking creates profoundness"


"Kindness in giving creates love"
author unknown

I would like for you to open your Bible and read the book of 2 John NKJ.  It's one of those short books located in the back of the Bible.  You will be glad you did!  I was!

Kindness

Kindness in words creates confidence




       Kindness in thinking creates profoundness



                     Kindness in giving creates love
                                                          author unknown

Christian and the Bear

The realities of faith, hope and love can make every day an exciting adventure.
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

I absolutely love life and I am excited to put my feet on the floor every day, even if I start the day "in a fog" and stagger to the bathroom after a night of staying up late creating something beautiful, such as a new poem or a story that must be written before going to sleep for the night.  I sometimes tell people that from the time we put our feet on the floor each morning until the head rests upon the pillow at night, we can't imagine what we will do and who we will meet.  Nor can we conceive of the blessings God will bestow upon us as the mysteries of the day unfold.
A  conversation about the teddy bear ministry began in the post office as simply as making a purchase of stamps.  I asked Jessica, as she selected my stamps, "has there ever been a stamp printed with the image of a teddy bear on it?"  She replied that she didn't know of one with a teddy bear on it.  I told her I was just curious because I am fond of teddy bears.  I shared with her, since there wasn't a line of people waiting for assistance behind me, the story of Nan's Goodwill Bears.  Jessica was impressed and told me she thought that it's a really good thing I'm doing.  I thanked her, made my purchase and that was the last time I saw her until a couple of weeks later.
As I came into the post office, Jessica looked pleased to see me and said she had been waiting for me to come into the post office.  She took out her cell phone and began to search for something on the phone.  When she turned the phone around for me, I was so touched by the photo she pulled up.  It was her little son, sitting on a hospital bed, holding a teddy bear and wearing six shiny staples on his knee.  Jessica told me he stroked the teddy to his cheek as the hospital staff placed the staples on his knee.  I asked her if she would email me the photo and she was glad to accommodate my request.
This past Friday when I came into the post office, Jessica greeted me with her usual pretty smile.  I asked her how was Christian doing since his accident.  She said he was doing well until they took him back to the ER to have the staples removed.  He remembered the experience of getting the staples set and the comfort his teddy bear brought him.  He cried out "I need a teddy bear!"  He wasn't thrilled about the idea of being "messed with" and he knew he would need the comfort of a teddy to make him feel better.
Jessica had never heard of Nan's Goodwill Bears until that day I asked about teddy bear postage stamps and not two weeks later, she was in the ER with Christian and much to her surprise, when she saw the teddy being given to Christian, she knew we had met in the Post Office a few days earlier.  Isn't God's timing perfect every time!!
Now, Christian has two special teddies to comfort him when necessary.  As you scroll down this page, you will find the photo of Christian and the bear.   Have a great day and make sure it becomes an exciting adventure.  Who has time for a mediocre day?!! Love ya! Nan