The Blankets

---

I have driven by this place for literally years. In fact, I remember when the house was remodeled into the facility that it is today—a small home for the elderly. We had eleven afghans and lap blankets that had been given to the Hugs and Kisses branch of The Encouragement Project, and I suggested this spot might be a good place to share these warm encouragements. I just had no idea it would yield such a story!
​
My mom, Reba, is an incredible help to The Project. She makes a lot of the connections and in-person contacts for both Hugs and Kisses and The Book Drop. So, she took the two bags of blankets and set out. 

The lady in charge of the facility was so welcoming, and said that the residents there (two of whom are over 100 years old) would love to have the encouragement of a beautiful blanket, especially since older folks tend to be cold. So she and mom loaded up their arms and trekked around to each room, letting each person choose the color they would like to have. Their responses were extremely special.

When mom returned, she just said, “That was incredible.” Then she had me guess how many residents they had. I said, “Eleven”, thinking that was just how many blankets we had, and about how God so often provides so exactly. But I was wrong. There were twelve folks living there. My face fell, and I quickly said that I would get one made to take back over for the one who was left out. But she smiled. “There were enough,” she said. “But there were only eleven?! We had both counted.” “Don’t know how it happened,” she answered, “but everyone got a blanket.”

If I think about it, I am still baffled by the numbers, but if I think about God, I know absolutely that he can do anything. God does provide exactly. Even when it’s more than we counted on or thought we had. He gives abundantly and generously, because he loves us. He loves you. Be encouraged.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he gave thanks and broke the loaves. 
Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people.
He also divided the two fish among them all. 
They all ate and were satisfied, 
and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of
broken pieces of bread and fish. 
​The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. 
Mark 6:41-44