So, maybe a garage sale doesn't need it's own blog post, but in this case, I think it does. So, here's the story of how one small garage sale turned into a great big blessing.
I'll just start with my dirty little secret: I did NOT want to do a garage sale. The last few garage sales I've tried have been a nightmare, and not at all worth the time and effort. However, my cousin suggested that we do a garage sale, and said that she would help, and I figured that I can't turn down good help, so we went for it. We planned it for her front yard (I live in the country so my house wouldn't work). Fast forward to the week of the garage sale: we had very few donations, she was scheduled to work for basically the entire sale, and my daughter and I both got sick that week. I was in tears the day we decided to postpone it. We've had a lot going on in our family lately, and I was sick, overwhelmed, and defeated. So, we postponed one week.
It's funny how God orchestrates these little miracles in the middle of moments of despair. It's amazing how He picks us up from our despair and shows His love when we need it most. The day we decided to postpone the garage sale, amazing things started to happen. It started with a Facebook message from a friend who is honestly someone I don't even know very well. God got ahold of her heart and she spread the word and donations poured in through her. Then they came in from our posts on Facebook sale sites, from friends of friends, from strangers, from church members. We soon realized that our planned spot wasn't big enough. So my mom started calling and found us the perfect location, and it was cheap! The donations continued, and when we got it all in on Thursday, we were astounded to see how much stuff we had! The building was full! We worked late Thursday night, but there was still a ton to do. Thursday night I was stressed, and prayed and prayed that we could get it all done. None of us could be there until after lunch on Friday and the sale started at 4. It was an impossible task! And then, out of the blue, another one of my cousins messaged asking if we needed help. And he showed up, and gave us two full days of work. By 2pm on Friday, people were coming. Not only were people coming, but donations were still coming. In fact, several people would come shop and then come back with donations! I was blown away! God opened the floodgates and it all came... the help we needed, the donations, the shoppers. I was blown away.
Every time I was awed by God, new things would come. I mean, we started off with some awesome stuff! A couch, recliners, entertainment center, coffee tables, a crib, toys, books, dishes, house stuff, tons and TONS of clothes. I couldn't believe the amount of stuff! And then, when I would get my mind around how amazing it was, I would be blown away again! A couple from church brought loads of stuff! Then a woman who I had never met, who spoke broken English, came back with her kids carrying ARMLOADS of stuff to donate "for the little girl". An old friend showed up with awesome stuff, someone I don't even know donated a Wii. A Wii!!! You guys, I know that maybe donating to a garage sale seems easy, but I KNOW that every single person that donated could have sold that stuff on their own. They could have kept the money. But they didn't - they gave and gave and gave. I saw SACRIFICIAL GIVING. To us, to our little girl who is a world away. Dozens of people in my community, many whom I had never met before, gave sacrificially. I still can't wrap my mind around that.
Of course, the donors were only half of the story, then came the shoppers. I could not believe the amount of stuff that we sold! I was completely amazed by the lack of haggling. I was blown away by the number of people who donated on top of their purchases. I was overwhelmed by the amount of sales and donations that we received. I was awed by the amount of love that was shown.
I have experienced God's love many times in my life. However, I honestly can say I don't think I've ever been so overwhelmed by seeing it manifested so tangibly. I still cannot wrap my mind around the amount of stuff that was donated, the amount of stuff that was sold, and just the amount of love that was shown. I see the stories of evil all around us, but right here in my hometown, I saw pure goodness from so many people. I saw sacrificial giving to a family that they don't know, and a little girl that they may never meet. People just gave. They just loved. They didn't question. They helped raise over $1200 toward bringing our daughter home. They helped save a life - and it was amazing.
A special shout out to my 2 cousins & my aunt who gave TONS of hours, my other cousin who covered childcare so her sister could help, my parents for feeding us and watching my children, my brother for bringing loads of stuff over and doing some heavy lifting, for everyone who shared our story, and for every single donor and every single shopper. You absolutely amaze me.
Thank you for joining us on our journey. If you would like to make a donation to help us bring our daughter home, you may make a tax-deductible donation at: www.reecesrainbow.org/sponsoroden No amount is too small - when we all do a little bit, it adds up to a lot!
I'll just start with my dirty little secret: I did NOT want to do a garage sale. The last few garage sales I've tried have been a nightmare, and not at all worth the time and effort. However, my cousin suggested that we do a garage sale, and said that she would help, and I figured that I can't turn down good help, so we went for it. We planned it for her front yard (I live in the country so my house wouldn't work). Fast forward to the week of the garage sale: we had very few donations, she was scheduled to work for basically the entire sale, and my daughter and I both got sick that week. I was in tears the day we decided to postpone it. We've had a lot going on in our family lately, and I was sick, overwhelmed, and defeated. So, we postponed one week.
It's funny how God orchestrates these little miracles in the middle of moments of despair. It's amazing how He picks us up from our despair and shows His love when we need it most. The day we decided to postpone the garage sale, amazing things started to happen. It started with a Facebook message from a friend who is honestly someone I don't even know very well. God got ahold of her heart and she spread the word and donations poured in through her. Then they came in from our posts on Facebook sale sites, from friends of friends, from strangers, from church members. We soon realized that our planned spot wasn't big enough. So my mom started calling and found us the perfect location, and it was cheap! The donations continued, and when we got it all in on Thursday, we were astounded to see how much stuff we had! The building was full! We worked late Thursday night, but there was still a ton to do. Thursday night I was stressed, and prayed and prayed that we could get it all done. None of us could be there until after lunch on Friday and the sale started at 4. It was an impossible task! And then, out of the blue, another one of my cousins messaged asking if we needed help. And he showed up, and gave us two full days of work. By 2pm on Friday, people were coming. Not only were people coming, but donations were still coming. In fact, several people would come shop and then come back with donations! I was blown away! God opened the floodgates and it all came... the help we needed, the donations, the shoppers. I was blown away.
Every time I was awed by God, new things would come. I mean, we started off with some awesome stuff! A couch, recliners, entertainment center, coffee tables, a crib, toys, books, dishes, house stuff, tons and TONS of clothes. I couldn't believe the amount of stuff! And then, when I would get my mind around how amazing it was, I would be blown away again! A couple from church brought loads of stuff! Then a woman who I had never met, who spoke broken English, came back with her kids carrying ARMLOADS of stuff to donate "for the little girl". An old friend showed up with awesome stuff, someone I don't even know donated a Wii. A Wii!!! You guys, I know that maybe donating to a garage sale seems easy, but I KNOW that every single person that donated could have sold that stuff on their own. They could have kept the money. But they didn't - they gave and gave and gave. I saw SACRIFICIAL GIVING. To us, to our little girl who is a world away. Dozens of people in my community, many whom I had never met before, gave sacrificially. I still can't wrap my mind around that.
Of course, the donors were only half of the story, then came the shoppers. I could not believe the amount of stuff that we sold! I was completely amazed by the lack of haggling. I was blown away by the number of people who donated on top of their purchases. I was overwhelmed by the amount of sales and donations that we received. I was awed by the amount of love that was shown.
I have experienced God's love many times in my life. However, I honestly can say I don't think I've ever been so overwhelmed by seeing it manifested so tangibly. I still cannot wrap my mind around the amount of stuff that was donated, the amount of stuff that was sold, and just the amount of love that was shown. I see the stories of evil all around us, but right here in my hometown, I saw pure goodness from so many people. I saw sacrificial giving to a family that they don't know, and a little girl that they may never meet. People just gave. They just loved. They didn't question. They helped raise over $1200 toward bringing our daughter home. They helped save a life - and it was amazing.
A special shout out to my 2 cousins & my aunt who gave TONS of hours, my other cousin who covered childcare so her sister could help, my parents for feeding us and watching my children, my brother for bringing loads of stuff over and doing some heavy lifting, for everyone who shared our story, and for every single donor and every single shopper. You absolutely amaze me.
Thank you for joining us on our journey. If you would like to make a donation to help us bring our daughter home, you may make a tax-deductible donation at: www.reecesrainbow.org/sponsoroden No amount is too small - when we all do a little bit, it adds up to a lot!
What an awesome experience! Can't wait to meet the newest Oden!
ReplyDelete