Giving Back

I have struggled writing this blog for some time now. I struggled because I simply didn’t know how to start it. But I don’t want to delay any longer – even if the right words escape me. So here we go. . . 🙂

WVLT out of Memphis posted this article back on September 17th, 2020, concerning a donor commitment that Domino’s Pizza made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Domino’s Pizza makes largest-ever donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (wvlt.tv)

“The franchise committed $100 million to the hospital over the next 10 years.” At the time (and I am assuming it still is) that was the largest donor commitment in the history of St. Jude, and St. Jude plans to use the money to develop 140 apartments to support the over 8000 children they serve every year. That is so amazing and very cool of Dominos. 🥳

Campus of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

I have always appreciated the work of St. Jude; but St. Jude became more special than ever to me and so many others in our community this year when it took on to serve our friend Will Tennison as he fought cancer. I asked Will last year about his experience, and he could only give praise and thanksgiving for all St. Jude had done for him and his family. And now we thank our God that Will is cancer free, and on the road to coming back to being all he wants to be and more.

It’s also because of Will that I am so proud of the $1000 that Fostering the Holidays will be donating to St. Jude in honor of him this week. Yes, I know $1000 is not $100 million 🤔🙂. However, it was donated to our light show by the great people who came to see it or just wanted to support it, and I am so thankful for each person who did. I am not listing those people by name; but you know who you are, and I just want you to know that 100% of the money you donated is going to a great cause.

I am so proud to be able to support St. Jude in honor of a young man and hero as amazing as Will!

Closing Thoughts

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

I know that Christmas, “the Season of Giving” is over, but we all know that shouldn’t be the case for Christians. Giving is a year-round effort.

As I thought about the $1000 that our Non-profit will be donating this year compared to millions that it receives through so many – I was reminded of a moment in the life of our Savior. It was the Tuesday before His crucifixion. He is in the temple being bombarded with questions and pauses to retire to the Court of Women where the treasury is located. And the following is recorded by Luke:

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4.

There is so much we can learn from this text, but I want to keep it simple for this post. I want to emphasize two points:

• God doesn’t care about the portion but the proportion of our giving.

• Jesus is still watching us today. He is watching to see how much we give.

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

I am so thankful for all of you “givers” out there, and I am thankful for all of you like me who are simply trying to get better at it. 🙂

Thanks for taking a moment to read this blog and supporting us as we continue Fostering the Holidays.