We're asking you-- a guest post

Hello, 4 Little Men readers!  This is Brittany's friend Shelly; you may remember me from the "accident/twins born" posts last year.  I wrote a little story for you all a while ago and I've finally been able to persuade Brittany to let me post it.

{Once upon a time, a Boy met a Girl and they fell deeply in love.  Time passed and their love grew.  Four handsome little boys now graced their dinner table and life was good.  The Boy was now a man, the Girl was now a woman, and they shouldered the responsibilities of their fruitful life.

After some years, the Boy had difficulty finding work to sustain his family.  Times got tough, but the Boy and the Girl trusted in their Creator.  The Creator heard their cries and blessed them with a bright spot in the midst of trouble.  Two beautiful baby girls, identical in the womb, joined the handsome little boys at the dinner table.

Times got harder, a devastating accident had brought about the early birth of the baby girls, and there was no more work to be found for the Boy.  The Girl fell ill, the Boy fell into despair, and the house fell into disrepair.  They continued to trust in their Creator, and again He heard their cries.  This time they were blessed with safe travels, a cozy dwelling, and the warm arms of a far-away family.

But, there was still not enough work to be found for the Boy, and the debt collectors began to scratch at the door.  Clinging to each other, the Boy and the Girl sought help, but found none.  They grew weary and longed for the comfort of their own home.  Faced with the reality of losing everything they had, they tried to return, but found no way to even collect their belongings.}

This fairy tale is the true story of Paul and Brittany and their six children.  As we speak, they are stranded with no immediate hope of return to their own home, even just to get their clothing and furnishings.  The jobs that Paul traveled to pursue have not been fruitful, and they are left stripped of any means to recover their debts.

Because helping Brittany out this time involves more than just scrubbing crayon out of her dryer  or fixing her meals, I've asked a very special person to help me, help her.

His name is Brent Riggs.  He's an author, counselor, mentor, business man, and most importantly, a father.  He and his wife have 7 children, one of whom has Leukemia.  He offers spiritual ministry and teaching on his blogs www.seriousfaith.com, www.buildabetterlife.com, and shares his life with his readers on his family blog, www.riggsfamilyblog.com.

Who better to share with you about generosity than a man with such a big heart for helping others?

Hi folks! My name is Brent Riggs… I’m guest posting for Brittany today but it wasn’t her idea. Shelly and I asked. Several times.

As Christians, spiritual beings, good citizens, nice people and just humans born with a beating heart, we often respond to heartbreaking stories of cancer, kids on their deathbed, tragedies, etc.   There are other times we would respond to good people in real need… if we simply knew about it.   All of us most likely will reach a point in our lives where the truth is, we need some help.

It is during those times that people like me, and like you, would love to help if we simply know there is a real need. That’s what being a “good person” is all about. Brittany and Paul are in one of those times in life where they need some help. They are great parents, work hard, help others… it’s just “their turn” for some help due to a series of economic and family circumstances that have brought them to this point.

Last year, when our daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia and we began to get deluged with medical bills and expenses, we found ourselves in the “help chair”. It was hard for me because I’ve always been the helper, the giver, the person doing for others. It is often humbling for responsible, hard working and mature folks to come to a point where they have to ADMIT they need a little help from others. This is in stark contrast to the “I deserve a handout” mentality that a multitude of people have today.

I’ve known Brittany’s family for a while. We talk regularly. She has written for our magazine – SeriousLife – and I’ve watched them work hard behind the scenes to take care of their family, pay the bills, find work, build a business,  etc. They’ve moved, willing to change careers, cut back, and working every angle to get things back on track. I’ve never seen them beg, mooch, manipulate or frankly, even directly ask for help. They haven’t asked me. I have never seen them manipulating anyone on their blog with a  sob story.

Now, make no mistake, while this post is not manipulation, I most certainly am making a blatant emotional appeal on their behalf. We need to come together and raise some money for them to go back and get their belongings – clothes, furniture, keepsakes – and pay some bills. They need some help while Paul continues his daily search for more work and Brittany builds a home business with her photography (which I know she is doing because I’m helping her with the business model and how to get started).

They just need some help. No frills, no sensational story, no manipulation. No gimmicks or cutesy stuff.  Just a straight forward appeal from me, to you, to help them.  If you are like me, I often say “I would have helped if I would have just known.” Well, now you know. Here is a good, responsible, hard working family who needs some help to get through this rough time. It’s their turn now. My family had a turn last year. Maybe next  year you’ll need a turn.

Out of the thousands of readers who are blessed by Brittany’s wonderful blog - especially to those who feel that God is the giver of our blessings and responsible for our welfare -  I address this appeal and ask you to join me in helping Brittany and Paul save their belongings (which they will lose without the money to go get them) and relieve the financial pressure on this wonderful family (which will only get worse without some help).

I’m looking for 49 other people who will join me in giving $100 each to Brittany’s family, and I’m hoping that is just the bare minimum we can gather for them.  Out of the 5000 or more readers that visit the 4 Little Men blog almost every day,  if even half could give $20 – way less than dinner out tonight – we could turn their world around in ONE DAY with $50,000 or more.   This is EXTRAVAGANT giving (the best kind), the kind that can change a family’s life, not just move the suffering to another day in the near future. That is the POWER of community, the power of numbers, the power of blessing.

The tendency will be to think “well times are tough for me too… what’s makes them any better?” NOTHING.  There’s no way to know, or to help every single person that needs it. Yesterday our family was helped. Today I’m asking you to help me help Brittany. Tomorrow, it might be you.

One last thing… I ASKED BRITTANY to allow me to post this. I had to assure her that there are a lot of people out there like me: we love to help, we just need to know how. There are always a few people tempted to leave ugly comments. Please don’t.

One of the greatest blessings in life is to give, to help, to bless others.  You can never out-give God, and you will NEVER fail to be blessed in return. Even when times are tough. We are still wobbling from medical bills, my income has been down 50% for over a year… and we have 7 kids.  But 40 years of giving and helping have assured me of one thing: no matter what kind of need I may have, when I still choose to help others, the blessing is ALWAYS mine!

Will you enjoy that blessing with me? Our family is giving the first $100, puttin’ our money where our mouth is.  Brittany’s family needs help. Let’s help them.

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