Iron Sharpens Iron

January 31, 2020 / by bofc / Make A Comment / Filed under Something Inspirational

Just a quick note to everyone who visits our Basket of Courage website. It’s been quite a while since you heard from me. Although, very active on Facebook I have not been as active on our website. I hope to change that with a monthly posting moving forward.

I am, however, humbled and appreciative of the donations that still come through the website even though it’s been awhile since the blog portion has had some new posts. With that being said the mission of Basket of Courage and the history have remained the same and to make it a little clearer we still work on the premise of “paying it forward.” When someone makes a request for a basket there is no charge for the basket. We rely on the generous donations from others in order to never miss an opportunity to send encouragement to those who are newly diagnosed, fighting again for the second or third time or spreading some cheer among the kids who are our greatest heroes.

In the beginning when funds were low, I was somewhat apprehensive and perhaps a little afraid that Basket of Courage might not be able to fulfill the “no charge” commitment. I am grateful to say after 9 years of sending encouragement and support in a basket, God has never let the well run dry.

He alone gets all the glory because this is where something very small laid on my heart one morning in prayer turned into something bigger than what I ever thought I could do. I truly thought I would send two or three baskets a year that was my plan, but God had a different plan. Through word of mouth especially from our recipients, Basket of Courage ships 50 to 60 baskets for women and 50-100 baskets for children annually.

I used the word I, but it really is we. There have been so many who have generously given whether it was a one-time donation or our continued annual donors, whether it was prayers being said for those diagnosed with cancer or for the shipping angels in my absence and especially for family and friends when extra hands are needed.

In ancient times one piece of iron could be used to sharpen another piece of iron. In the process of iron sharpening iron, both pieces change – the sharpener and the piece being sharpened. That is what I believe happens when we walk along side someone who needs encouragement or that cold cup of water. Both are changed for the better.