In my last post, I wrote about the profound impact your donations to Maggie Lee’s Closet have had on children in our community.
I mentioned one girl who was on the brink of expulsion for removing her undies at school. This “discipline problem,” you will recall was the result of ill-fitting undergarments, not a disrespectful temperament.
Ms. Linda, the social worker who came to the closet seeking clothing, delivered the bag of undies, clothes & uniforms a week ago Saturday.
Our precious little friend was hysterically happy. She excitedly gathered the bag as if it contained the holy grail, asked Ms. Linda to stay in her home and bolted down the street to show the nearest neighbor her miracle.
The look on the precious faces of these children who receive a new uniform and a beautiful outfit is that of your child when they are chosen for All-Stars, win the talent show or are celebrated with a huge birthday blowout.
To those kids who do without on a perpetual basis, the simple gift of a new outfit is a miraculous thing. And I get to see this unfold every week.
How blessed am I?
The frenzied magic of Maggie Lee’s Closet…where kindness is always in fashion
Maggie Lee’s Closet is a magical place. Last night Linda who is school counselor and committee member for MLC shared a heart-rending story which beautifully illustrates why this is true.
Linda was called to an area elementary school to work with a troubled student. In Linda’s words,
“The student was recently taken away from her parents and placed with the only kin who agreed to take her, an older cousin who just became a mother herself. The child is a big girl and every day she would take off her panties. The teacher became aware of this and told her that she needed to stay completely dressed during the day. The little girl continued to disobey her teacher and was set to be suspended unless she changed.”
Linda witnessed the shocking behavior as she observed the girl in her classroom. Linda escorted the child to the restroom with another adult and told her to put her panties back on. The girl showed Linda the red gashes in her upper thigh where her underwear had cut into her. A size 12, she started out the day wearing the size 8′s but sooner or later it was too much for her to take and she had to get free from them.
That is an unbelievable reality for me. Even in the salad years we had Grandmothers buying Easter dresses and supplying a constant stream of tiny cowboy boots. We had the safety net of awesome hand-me-downs and filled in with Gymboree Blowout sale items. I had a husband, a job, diaper money, a car, gas and food on my table. I was and am still so incredibly blessed.
Hundreds of friends and strangers have worked to make Maggie Lee’s Closet a reality because they feel blessed as well and want to continue God’s flow of goodness to those around them. Perhaps we cannot solve the world’s problems but as I meet the young bearers of poverty’s brunt, I know that we can do something.
Linda bagged up the solution to this young girl’s behavior issue in the simple form of donated Hanes panties, a new uniform, jacket and a note of love on Maggie Lee’s Closet stationary. A simple reminder to a displaced child that she is precious and not forgotten.
And that is magic.
I have been changed for good.
MLfG Is only a few weeks away and the story just keeps spreading!
Michelle Chan took pics of the book in New Zealand where she lives and the FBCS Cheerleaders will be wearing their pink MLfG T shirts on Wednesday on the Live with Kelly and Michael show…so be sure and tune in and scream at your tv.
I spoke at The University of Mary Hardin Baylor to over 1,400 students and the entire campus will participate on Oct. 29th!
I leave for Tifton, GA next week and will celebrate MLfG Day a few days early on the 16th as every elementary school in Tifton will participate in MLfG Day!
Our hearts are full as we see the amazing blessings God is bringing from Maggie Lee’s life. Wow!
For more info:
http://www.maggieleeforgood.org
The first clothes have been given away from Maggie Lee’s Closet- a brand new ministry funded by The Maggie Lee Henson Fund at The Community Foundation.
In my husband’s work at Church for The Highlands and as the Chaplain for the VOA of NW Louisiana he realized that there was a huge need for kids clothes in The Highland Neighborhood.
Maggie Lee loved clothes and what a precious thought that kids will go to Maggie Lee’s closet for a new uniform or pair of shoes.
I have to believe that this would be RIGHT up her alley!
We are in need of new socks and undies for kids of all sizes. Let us know if you or your group would like to be a part of this wonderful experience. And, thank you, donors for being Jesus to these kids!
I Googled my image. Someone requested an image that was not on my new computer so I Googled my name. Always an interesting exercise.
As you can see from this picture there are a myriad of diverse images under Jinny Henson. My favorite is the “From a Pothead to a Preacher’s Wife,” graphic complete with weed font which I have absolutely never seen next to Helvetica.
While I would love to hear the pothead to preacher’s wife story, it’s not mine.
But for the grace of God, I may have gone the other direction.
So, Google thyself and let me know if you find a weed font…or even something better.
My friend, Kandee gave this coffee mug to me. I love the message.
As you are tempted to look around and assume that everyone else is living Plan A, remember that most likely they are not.
Time wounds all heels. You may have a limp but at least try to limp with a little panache.
