Once Upon a Time……there was a little girl in New Jersey named Emily, who visited the Make a Wish Castle. After an afternoon tour, the little girl and her family entered the wish room. Hand in Hand. Together.
A treasure box was opened that contained a magical crystal. Emily and her mother placed the magic crystal into the wish box and whispered her wish together. Birds chirped, beautiful lights and sounds arose…and then Emily’s wish traveled to a sparkly star.
She made her one true wish….to go to Disneyworld and meet Winnie the Pooh.
Soon after her wish was granted, Emily and her family were headed to sunny Florida, where they would spend 5 glorious days together at Give Kids the World Village. They also spent some fun filled days at the Magic Kingdom, Sea World and Universal Studios.
During that week, Emily and her family were able to step into a story-book world filled with unconditional love, generosity, kindness & hope. Four things…….that we don’t always see in our every day lives. Sometimes…. people get so busy, they forget to live life and take for granted the time we have here on Earth. Not remembering that no day is promised to us.
Everyone’s time is precious. Jesus time was precious, he had three years of ministry. He knew that he only had a short time so he made the best of it, not by finding time, but by making time for others….to share in their life and joy. To share of Himself.
Their days were filled with enchanted carousel rides that spin underneath a polka dotted mushroom, theme park adventures they had only dreamed of or heard about, late night pizza, morning strolls to breakfast and a chance to use your imagination no matter where you were.
Some children were in wheel chairs, some were skipping to the music that played on the village walkways, some may have been spending their last days there at the village, some were non-verbal like Emily, and some had lost their hair due to cancer treatments.
All of that didn’t matter here.
All that DID matter was that they were together. Having the time of their lives. Here and now.
Our hearts were full in knowing that volunteers travel to this whimsical resort from all of the World, just so they could make a difference. They were always smiling and offering to lend a hand, they cooked and cleaned and offered cookies at the end of an adventure filled day. They were snow princesses waving in a parade, ice cream scoopers, picture takers and train operators ready to take you for a spin at the Amberville train station. They were Angels in disguise.
On the very last day in the Castle of Miracles, Emily dropped her very own gold star into a magic tree. That night the Star Fairy soared through the air and hung her star in the castle sky where it will shine forever.
Emily’s mommy, daddy and her two sisters Ashley & Lillian were able to spend their time together with no worries because others gave of themselves.
In this village they call….. Give Kids the World.
