It’s my joy to bring you this month’s guest blog by Kim Menne! Kim is one of my closest friends, quick to speak life and truth, faithful to encourage, and committed to showing kindness. Kim = Kindness In Motion; it’s literally in her name. I hope you’re inspired by her words to make a difference in someone else’s life, especially during the holiday season. Even something small, like a pair of pajamas, can have an eternal impact.

“Kindness In Motion” by Kim Menne

Have you ever woken up from a cozy, well-rested sleep, awakening slowly with a soothing, long stretch in your comforting, warm pajamas and then question these amazing blessings and think, am I doing enough? There are so many hurting people, and the question I woke up to one chilly fall day was, “How can I provide comfort, care, and kindness when it matters most?”

I had just celebrated the seventh year of my parents passing. It was the first year that I did not wallow in sadness and loss of joy for missing my parents. This particular year, I celebrated with laughter, memories, and looking at old photographs. I didn’t have that empty feeling this time. I was filled with joy knowing they were with Jesus and my heart was open and that is when God spoke to my heart. I kept hearing, “Daughter, I need you to help more children.” I thought, “More????” I thought back… what did He mean “more”?

“Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” – Isaiah 58:10

So of course, I go straight to self-evaluation. I realized that there were numerous times that God opened doors for me to care for children and that I went through the door without hesitation. Once I lined them all up, it was an eye-opening moment with amazement as I did not even realize how many times God spoke, and I answered.

“For You have been a stronghold for the helpless, a stronghold for the poor in his distress, a shelter from the storm, a shade from the heat…” – Isaiah 25:4

God opened a door for me to care for:

• Four children who lost their mother and needed care for over 30 years
• Young male teen basketball player who needed housing and basic needs for a few months
• Toddler who needed a home and extra love for over 5 years
• Homeless young woman, a senior in high school, who needed housing and love for 10 months
• Women who were in domestic violence situations and needed a bed for the night
• My own children’s friends who needed a little extra support and my door was always open

My Dad always said my Gram had a love for lost animals, and I had a love for lost children who needed that little extra.

My idea behind Gram’s Jams, besides the fact that I love warm and cozy pajamas, was inspired by my parents. Every year for Christmas, my Mom and Dad would buy pajamas for everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. All the kids, all the parents, eventually all the boyfriends and girlfriends, and all the kids I would be helping that year. Everyone got PJ’s. It reminds me of Oprah’s famous show where she says, “You get a car and you get a car… everybody gets a car!!” I picture my mom saying, “You get PJ’s and you get PJ’s… everybody gets PJ’s!!”

When I heard the call for more children, my mind went deep and I cannot even pinpoint the day or time but the words “Gram’s Jams” came to mind. I remember telling a friend, “Wouldn’t it be cool to collect pajamas and call it Gram’s Jams after my Mom?” They instantly said a resounding “YES!!!” And that is as far as it went. I did not pursue it or even think of it past that day.

But as time went on, I couldn’t get Grams Jams out of my mind. I remember approaching a few churches and organizations about the idea, wanting someone to take the idea and run with it. What did I know about starting a charitable donation drive? I had never done anything like that. Everyone I spoke to thought it was a great idea and much needed, but no one had the desire to take and use the idea.

I thought, what do I have to lose? I can put it out there and see where it goes. I noticed on Facebook others requesting donations; I thought, I can do that. I put a simple post out there introducing Gram’s Jams and waited to see if anyone would donate. Not one single person commented or even liked the post. That’s it. I am not doing it. I forgot about it and let it go with zero donations.

The next year, again, God stirred my heart about Gram’s Jams, so again I put out on social media requesting donations. That year I got one, donated by a close family member. Again, I talked myself out of pursuing the idea any further. I am pretty sure, I probably told myself that it was a stupid idea.

The third year rolled around. I was at a new job and again talked about the idea with a co-worker who loved the idea and came up with a flyer that spoke to my heart. It took one person to believe in me and my idea. The flyer excited me. My co-workers excited me with encouragement so I went all in; and that was the year I got over 100 pair of PJ’s. And then year six rolled around, last year. That was the magic year; we were able to collect 487 pajamas, with our goal being 500.

When God has a dream for your life, nothing can stop it. God placed this dream in my heart and it was meant just for me to honor my parents, to honor our most vulnerable children, and to honor God. Even when I tried to give it away, God made sure it stayed with me.

“Then the Lord said to me, Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” – Habakkuk 2:2-3

My love for children – the most vulnerable children, the fosters, the adopted, the homeless, the hurting – is without boundaries. Providing hope and healing to vulnerable children and our community is heavy on my heart. I believe that this small token, a pair of pajamas, will be a life-changing moment in a child’s journey. I envision a scared and lonely child receiving a fuzzy warm pair of pajamas, and that God plants a seed in their heart that day – that they will also want to help children who are in hopeless situations. God has shown me visions of adults who remember that one simple act of kindness that drives them into adulthood wanting to help others.

Working together with family, friends, Facebook, and all social media outlets, we can work together to best meet the needs of the children entrusted to the care of our community.

There are so many ways to get involved. Not every person is in the position to foster a child, adopt a child, or open up their home. Financial donations are always crucial and can be used in so many different capacities. You can volunteer time to a place like Dwell Orphan Care in Pennsylvania, who provides clothing, essentials, emergency needs for a child placed in emergency foster care. They also provide training for trauma specialists, and the list goes on. If you can’t help directly with children, there is help needed with organizing, donating, and even sharing a social media post is a big help to create momentum.

Changing the lives of others in our own community begins with people like you wanting to make a difference. Start today by just purchasing one pair of pajamas for a child who has been removed from a traumatic situation and feels so alone and scared. That one act of kindness of putting on a pair of pajamas in a new bed, in a new home, with new people can be the most comforting feeling the child had all day long. A cute pair of pajamas with their favorite character like Paw Patrol or a dinosaur, a pair of pink unicorn pajamas for a little girl who is missing her mommy and getting to feel like a princess for the night. This small act of kindness could be the most eye-opening and encouraging part of your holiday season.

“I’ve left you an example of how you should serve and take care of those who are weak. For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus who taught, ‘Giving brings a far greater blessing than receiving.’” – Acts 20:25

If you are interested in donating pajamas to change the life of a child, to reroute their destiny into God’s will, you can find information on the Facebook page—Kindness in Motion, or donate directly to Dwell Orphan Care at https://www.dwellorphancare.org. Our goal this year is 600!