MAGGIE AND HER TEDDY BEAR
She sat on the bus clutching to her teddy bear. Each time the bus door opened she looked to see if it was her mom. And each time she held on tighter to her bear when it wasn’t. At the same time another person on the bus was watching her. It was his first time being on a bus. His concern grew stronger when he realized their was no parent with her. The bus was coming to the end of the line. He had to do something. Gently he approached her and asked where her mom or dad was. No answer. He asked her name. With tears in her eyes she said “ Maddie”. And with that he told the driver to call the police. While waiting he picked her up into his arms and held her. He was a father too. She held tightly to her teddy bear until she heard the familiar voice of her mom running up to the bus. With tears of joy and fear she scooped her into her arms. The stranger then learned that she was a single mom working two jobs after losing her husband to cancer a few months before. This chance meeting, some may call a God winked moment, brought two strangers together so that he could help them both. A few days later he bought them a home so that their struggle would be lessened. That stranger was none other than Elon Musk. I cried when I heard this story. Not because it was about Elon Musk and the good deed he did. It was about the little girl Maddie who’s only comfort during her scary ride on the bus was her teddy bear. And it is for this reason God put it on my heart to start a fundraiser for 200 children from Marshall, North Carolina, who also need comfort after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Like Maddie, some of them have lost one or more of their parents. Through the kindness of many we have raised enough for 160 bears! But we still need 40 more so no child will go without a bear for their comfort at Christmas. If you would like to donate you can Zelle me at 951-603-4460 or Venmo me at @Teresa-King-101 before Wednesday November 27th, the day before Thanksgiving. As Jesus provided a stranger to help Maddie he will do the same for these children. God bless you all for those who have already donated and those to come.