Let's show love by donating #Fulanas (Sweaters)

Everyone deserves to be loved and to be cared for. Everyone ought to love and show care.

This cold season is barely two weeks but its already becoming unbearable. It's winter time in Kenya.One has  to get creative and dress up really warm so as not to end up trembling the whole day like a drenched sheep.Or so not to catch a cold or worse, pneumonia.  People are seen cuddling on their hot water bottles, those who can, some are drinking hot water, coffee, tea, drinking chocolate or whatever throughout the day to fight the cold.

Today am rather overdressed... am wearing a sweater and a heavy jacket on top just so that I can keep myself warm. While I have an option of wearing two at ago, someone somewhere in the streets has none. And am not talking about chics who pretend they are not feeling cold by exposing themselves. Am talking about the people who live in the streets because they have no home. The street is their home and they don't have options for what to wear or how to wear. Amongst this people, there are kids, even infants and toddlers. Some of them are elderly, some disabled, but what to do, they have no option! While me and you struggle to wake up every other morning from our warm beds because we are complaining of how cold it is outside, them they are out in that cold and not just out, but lying down on cold cemented floor or if lucky, they sleep on hard cartons with some extremely dirty pieces of clothes to cover up themselves. Some get inside a sack and that's it. They sleep like that day in day out. That's their lifestyle!

That is so saddening isn't it? But feeling sorry just for the thought of it is NOT enough! There is more we can do. That is why some friends have started out a project (Hearts & Fulanas) of urging Kenyans to collect as many sweaters or anything that can keep someone warm and then to be distributed with hearts of love to this awesome but helpless people. There are designated drop-off points and contacts for calling for more clarifications.(see poster)

How to get Involved:

As I mentioned above, we ought to love and love with actions as well. Having the kind of compassion that Jesus had. Compassion is what drove Jesus to love us all.

Compassion defined: Your pain in my heart; feeling someone else's pain 


 Two Great truths about compassion:

• Compassion is holding God and man in one thought at one time, at all times.
• Compassion drives me to involvement.

My heart was so moved and convicted at the same time when I saw this project's mission. To love and hug. That is basically what they are offering. Nothing more but love. Everything in me wanted to be a part of this great idea. How can I help was the question I asked myself. And the answer, I need to get involved by donating and spreading the word too!

Once you read this, please tweet, share on Facebook, talk about it, do anything to make sure everyone is aware.

Let's spread the hug, love and donate Fulanas. Let's get involved. Won't we?

 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9: 6-10)

A simple thank you goes a long way.

Have you ever gone out of your way to give someone a gift and never got a simple "thank you"? or if you did get, it was just a casual one that left you thinking OK!...you know what am saying?

It happened to me the other day. I went out of my way with excitement to buy someone a birthday gift and up to now umm, my eyes are still glued to my phone lest I receive a call from the said person just to say aaaw...thanks I liked the gift very much :-). My love language is words of affirmation you can tell?. You see, I had spent the entire week wondering what to buy for them. Then viola! I got this great idea and bought some sweet things (Ha! so I think...)  Yes I was waiting for feedback so that I may know if I made a good choice.

Okay, the way I handed the gift was in a hurry maybe that's why I never got even a hug but at least I got a smile :-)

I knew we would catch up later and receive that tight hug you know! but nothing. Then  I was like...eeh why did I even bother? Instantly while I was still whining, this thought came to my mind; How many times has God blessed me with THINGS and I never even remembered to say a simple thank you?

How many times have I prayed and even fasted for God to bless me? To intervene in a tough situation? and yet when He did, I acted like it was my right to get it. Or all I did was just saying wow thank God I got this. Or even I did not notice the blessing when it came. So sad I even called it a good luck....a nice day for me. All the same knowing very well I don't believe in luck. By the way does good luck ever exist? Or I gave credit to the person whom God had used to pass the gift to me... asking God to return to them a hundred fold because they blessed me with something I really needed. Without putting God in the picture.

This got my heart so broken before God. I asked God to forgive me for ignoring Him even when He Has given me sooo much more abundantly far above what I had asked  and what I hadn't asked for.

The most precious gift I have ever received is Love, Mercy and Grace from God. So precious because, He went the extra mile to GIVE HIS ONLY SON to die brutally just so I may receive eternal life.

Yet, how many times do I just take time to thank God from the bottom of my heart for this Great Gift? I mean just dedicating special time to do so. When I wake up every morning, how many times do I even remember to thank God for the gift of life knowing very well its a privilege to see a new day? Do I make it a consistent thing to thank God for my family, for my friends, for my nation and for my Job?

You know, think about it, if God was a human being like me and you, He would have so given up on us a long time ago.

He does not come to us demanding for a "Thank you" and attention. He is such a gentleman :-) Not petty. So marvelous for me to fathom.

Just to mention and another privilege, Never in my entire life have I been sick to a point of getting admitted to the hospital. I don't know how hospital beds feels to lie on them and I do not wish to feel them any day. Another privilege, since the year began and its half way to end, I have not caught even a cold. I have not had a headache nor a stomachache or anything to make me take medicine.

What can I call this if its not amazing Grace?

Who will call me a friend when the relationship here is not always two way?

So Lord... please forgive me for the many times I have taken you for granted.(Ask me and like Simon Peter, I will deny three times before the cock crows) Yet its so true. Forgive me for not loving you unconditionally as I should. Forgive me for searching for you enthusiastically only when am in desperate situations...that time when am pressed between two rocks.

But how His  mercy endures forever!

Thank you Lord for Amazing Grace. Thank you for NOT giving up on me. Thank you for Loving me unconditionally.

Am truly Grateful.

What are you thankful to God about?share with us in the comments section below.

If you liked this post, you might also like:

1. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

2. WHAT IS YOUR VALUE?

3. Humility is not a weakness.

4. Starting well.

So, you are waiting for Mr. right... are you a Miss right?

Every single girl dreams of hooking up with "Mr. right" some day.True or false?

Especially during this beginning of the year while everyone is making new resolutions.

By the way, does Mr. right ever exist? Yes. No. Maybe.

Mr. right here, is the famous tall, dark and handsome or a man who has taste in fine things like clothing and gadgets, treats you as a queen, has a good paying job with a big company, drives a nice big car and lives in some respected residential area and is generous to shower her with many gifts.

A part from him owning the "fine things", he's got to have other characteristics that most women would term it as "added advantages". He has to be a man who lets her pass through the door or the gate first, opens the car door for her, pulls a sit for her at the restaurant, is proud to walk with her while holding hands e.t.c

OK, well. I know it's not all women who are into all this, but let's be real. I hear every aspiring wife has this list of expectations of the would be husband and if they don't have one, then its considered as a serious requirement.

In pursuit to all this characteristics, it has led to prolonged singleness to some of my sisters. All I know from the knowledge I have acquired is that, NOT every man will have all this requirements. Surely sisters! don't you think that's too much of expectation from someone? or is it too overrated?

Off course every lady would want to be pampered, but watch out not miss the mark while focusing on the earthly things that fades away. I totally agree. No woman would want to hook up with some unkempt and irresponsible guy or a guy who does not value women and has got no respect to them whatsoever.

My point is, by the time a woman thinks of being found by a "Mr. right", she should have prepared her self to be a "Miss right" first. You can only attract one of your kind. So ironical it happens, we put so much focus on what we want and forget to consider who we should be.

You can not be asking God to bring along a man who will be faithful to you while you are sleeping around in your singlehood. A man who will respect and love you unconditionally while you are struggling with submission to those in authority over you. A man who will protect and take care of you while you are careless with your own self. A man who is hardworking while you are lazy and unreliable. I could go on and on but all am trying to imply is, before you ask for something, evaluate yourself to see if you can offer the same. And what you do now as a single woman, it will determine the future you want.If you know you are not so strong in any area, then you can start early preparations as the grace is ever sufficient and the Lord grants you your heart desires.

The book of Proverbs 31 in the bible inspired me to write this article after I read that chapter the other day and I was taken aback by the new revelation. It talks about the strengths of a woman. A Godly woman. The kind of woman that the man is told about her in Proverbs 18:22. She is a goodly portion and earns him favour from the Lord. 

From this chapter, let's have a look at some strengths and characteristics that an aspiring (even married) Godly wife should have in my own summarized form.

Reading from verse 10:

She is a woman of character.

She is trustworthy.

She is submissive.

She is wise.

She is hardworking.

She is responsible.

She is Visionary - she sees the future from now.

She is a protector.

She is descent.

She is not a gossiper.

She is a blessing.

She is praiseworthy.

She is irreplaceable or non-comparable.

She is God fearing - she reveres the LORD.

Who can find a woman with strength of character? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never lack profit.

"Many daughters have done nobly, but you transcend them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who reveres the LORD will be praised. Acknowledge the product of her hands; let her works praise her in the gates.

And my prayer is that may every baby girl be found with this great qualities. Let's kill that notion of "This days it's hard to find a woman to marry." Let our characters be displayed in all that we do,wherever we go,and whatever we say.AMEN!