sneaky generosity

the other day as i was waiting for my plane to take off (yes - ANOTHER trip to charlotte. this time for lyds' wedding), i happened to notice this "tweet" (for those of you who know me, you know how difficult it was for me to put the proper name right there...). mark horvath is the founder of invisible people, has almost 14,000 followers on the ole' twitter, and is the keeper of this blog: http://hardlynormal.com. and here he is giving MY dad credit for where he is now.

this reminded me of the watershed charlotte (my parents' church) six year anniversary video from a few weeks back that shared the stories of many broken people. i can't even count how many people just that sunday said something pertaining to "tim and ann abare changed my life". i got choked up watching all these people tell their stories - feeling overwhelmingly blessed that these people raised me. loving that whenever i go to their church, people know me as "tim & ann's daughter".

because here's what i love about my parents... they are behind the scenes orchestrators. they are all about sneaky generosity.

our dear, dear family friend was just married (my dad married the couple and most of our family members were in some way involved) to a sweet guy who has a strained relationship with his dad (as in he doesn't talk to him ever), and a practically non-existent one with his mom. while at the rehearsal dinner (which had a TON of people), i saw my dad talk to the manager at the restaurant and then handed him a card. there my dad was, paying for this huge dinner to show this guy a practical sense of fatherly love. tucking one more son in his arm (as if he doesn't have enough of those boys!).

i know a girl whose marriage is on shaky grounds right now. she and i used to be very close - but have just grown apart as we're headed in completely different directions. i saw her a couple weekends ago and she just kept going on and on about how my mom has been such a help and encouragement to her and her pain right now. i had no idea, because my mom would never say anything.

as i was nosing around my parents' house alone tonight, i saw a really cool card on the desk and, of course, read it. it was from terry hilliard (the guy who married luke and sarah). he's been staying with my parents for the last two weeks. he said, "when i meet people like you both, i am reminded of the goodness of God! you both shine with the heart of Jesus. having been with you for 2+ weeks - your heart for people, family & the kingdom of God oozes from your lives."

i find it ironic that my dad is orchestrating a gigantic gala (http://epoch2011.com/) to celebrate the lives of missionaries - the unsung heroes of our day. mostly because someone should be putting together a huge party to cheer on the secret generosity that my parents let explode from their hearts.

i hope that you can come to my house and be nosy and find cards and letters that say similar things.