Velvet Hangers

 by Macy Johnson

“This is a day of good news

and we are keeping it to ourselves.

Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

(2 Kings 7:9 NIV)

 

My husband, Jeff, and I returned one sunny, Saturday afternoon from the surprise celebration of our friend’s ninetieth birthday. As I pulled my Tahoe into our carport, I noticed two large packages by the door. My heart sank. Something was amiss. Just as I suspected, my Amazon order had been double-shipped. I opened both boxes. Instead of receiving one hundred velvet hangers for the hospital’s Gift Gallery, I received two hundred! What should I do with so many?

 

A few weeks before, I joyfully labored alongside other volunteers to set up the gift shop for a Christmas open house. A new circular clothes rack was delivered and assembled by the hospital’s maintenance department. We stood back and admired the new rack and one of the volunteers commented, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have all new hangers for our new clothes rack?” I counted the slots on the rack and decided to order one hundred velvet hangers.

 

I contacted the seller. Should I ship back the extra hangers? Their reply was that return was unnecessary. So, I decided to share a portion of the hangers with a nearby thrift store. Like the lepers in the story in 2 Kings, I dared not let myself keep all the bounty that God provides.

 

“A generous man will prosper;

he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

(Proverbs 11:25 NIV)

 

As I prepare a Thanksgiving feast for friends and family this week, I will praise God for how He has revealed Himself to me in so many amazing ways. His blessings do overflow.

 

I will share my blessings with others so my heavenly Father is glorified. I hope you will, too!