What is dear to my heart

This post is in partnership with GoFundMe. This story is what is so dear to my heart and has touched me deeply, and I am so excited to share this fundraiser with you!

I am already crying and I just started typing. I started a GoFundMe to help a friend who is so deserving of prayers and support. This is Briana Johnson, an amazing wife to Mike and to her wonderful 5 kids.

 

 

I met Briana a few years ago through the blogging world. I knew I liked her instantly because she emanated sincerity, kindness and maturity and so much positive energy. Sometimes unfortunately, the bloggers I meet are not that likable. They give off this “I am so cool I have 30k Instagram followers, and I am just so pretty and so much cooler than you.” persona. Haha, isn’t that ridiculous? I want to say to them, “Get off your high horse lady! You are not a celebrity!” But Briana is the opposite of that. So humble, so kind, so real.

Then I found out soon after that  she was pregnant with her 5th child. Wow, a 5th child? She’s amazing! I thought. Then through a mutual friend I found our her husband Mike has a very aggressive case of Multiple Sclerosis which had robbed him of his physical and mental capabilities. The friend told me Briana not only has to take care of her 4 little children with one on the way, she has to take care of her husband who is losing more of his capabilities everyday, and be the provider of the family. Wow. That is so much on her shoulders, I thought.

I complain or sigh more than I would like to. It is something I am working on. Being a mother is such a difficult job! A Instagram follower commented on my recent post and shared what one of her friends shared with her, and she said we work for the king. THE king! Of course the job is going to be difficult and challenging. Of course it’s suppose to stretch our capabilities in every direction to shape us to be the person he needs us to be. I find it very challenging to be a mother to 3 little kids, and so I sigh and complain sometimes. But when I heard about Briana’s situation, I realized I have no right to complain. What she is going through is so much bigger than my problems, I have no right to complain. I believe people, including ourselves, go through trials at various times in our lives so that when another person is going through a trial, we can uplift that person and help them. And when the tables turn(it is bound to happen, we all go through trials), then we can be the recipient of receiving help and acts of kindness from the other person. The act of giving service and receiving service are both important, for when we give service, we are growing much more than the person receiving the service, so it’s important to also be willing to receive service when we need help, for they can grow as well. I truly believe our purpose in life is to serve others. The first and foremost purpose in life is to save ourselves and be converted in Jesus Christ and work towards salvation, and second, it is to uplift other people’s burdens and help them with our talents and means.

So this is why I started this GoFundMe for Briana & Mike, as they battle this fight. We can ease their burden just a little bit and lift them up with our love, prayers and support. And they need our help! Mike is no longer able to work and Briana is providing alone full-time for their family of 7. I had a chance to meet her 12 yr. old boy and he was the sweetest, most helpful boy to her mom, I was so impressed by him! I can only imagine her other 4 little kids are just as amazing. The doctors thought Mike would need a wheelchair in 20 years but it’s only been 6. His symptoms are coming at him at a faster speed than the doctors had predicted and I cannot imagine what Mike and Briana has been going through, financially and emotionally. I think they are amazing for their endurance, their perseverance and patience.

So please help me in raising money to help keep their home wheelchair accessible such as getting him from main floor to basement , an intercom system so that he can talk to the kids without having to walk to them, and a portable ramps for his wheelchair, so that he can be a part of his family’s lives and not miss out on anymore memories. Since he is losing the use of his left side of his body, each step is so labored and he has fallen and hurt himself many times. I started this fundraiser and announced it on my Facebook page less than 18 hours ago and it’s received $650 from 13 supporters with 78 shares! It makes me teary-eyed thinking there are so many good people in this world. There are so many more good people than the bad. I truly believe that.

$5, $10, any amount will help. I know they’ll greatly appreciate prayers as well, if you are not able to donate. I know even one person can bring about a miracle, and with many, anything is possible.

 

Click to donate to Briana & Mike’s Fight.

Read more about this beautiful family on Briana’s blog: http://journeywithjohnsons.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Thank you to GoFundMe for partnering with me on this post.