With three events in one weekend – Friday in Birmingham and Saturday in both East Tennessee and Memphis – different members of the team were spreading out to cover a corner of the Southeast:
David & Dana, Trey, Lauren, Tami, Emily, Liz and I would all be on the road. Some of us were driving from home to one fundraiser while others were doing a combination of flying and driving to make it to two.
I (Ellen) was flying into Memphis on Friday and driving from there to Birmingham and back for Memphis on Saturday.
Along with members of the team getting to each local fundraiser, the variety of shirts, hoodies, hats, and cups needed to be transported, too. The drivers filled their vehicles with totes and boxes, and I – loaded down with two full size suitcases, a carryon-sized backpack, and a large purse – made my way from the Memphis baggage claim toward the ground transportation.
This wasn’t the first time in the fall to travel with a seemingly ridiculous amount of luggage. By this point the entertainment of seeing the rental counter agent ask me, “How many days are you in town?” while eyeing the many bags around me had become a regularly expected amusement. I had become accustomed to the balancing act, though, and chose the nearby escalator rather than walking across the baggage claim to get to the elevator.
Out the doors and onto the first of the moving walkways that led to the rental car area, and I stopped walking a few paces behind a couple that was standing ahead of me on the moving sidewalk. The two, who I later learned were David & Laura of Honolulu, offered to scoot to the side for me to pass, but with all my bags I told them that I was happy to stand still.
He asked, “Did we see you managing those bags down the escalator? You know there’s an elevator a ways down, right?”
Laughing, I acknowledged the elevator and began explaining why I had so many bags with me.
“I head back home in just a couple of days, but I work for a non-profit organization and I’m here to attend two fundraisers this weekend. These two big bags are both full of shirts, hoodies, and hats that I’m transporting.”
“Oh, what does your organization do?” Laura asked.
“We have the privilege of providing grants that help cover adoption agency and legal fees for Christian couples!” I answered, while referencing my hat and Sacred Selections Colorado 5k t-shirt.
With a heartfelt expression, she turned to her husband and told him to move to the side when they got to the end of the moving sidewalk. Turning back to me she said, “and you come with me because I’m going to write your non-profit a check!”
I thanked her as we stepped to the side. She found her checkbook, used my hat to confirm how the check should be made out, and I spoke briefly with David about their own travel to the area.
This couple – traveling all the way from Hawaii – only needed a few words to see the value, need, and significance of supporting adoptive families. Without a moment’s hesitation, they decided that they would take part in the mission. May we all be as quick to act generously when we see a worthy need – stewards of our blessings in a way that allows us to give both what we have intentionally planned and when an opportunity presents itself!
