Stephanie Newton Books

Like so many others around the country, my life was touched by the life of a child that I didn’t even know.  Her name was Maggie Lee.   She was on her way to church camp when the bus she was on blew a tire and overturned.  Maggie Lee, along with two other children, was trapped under the bus.  From all reports, Maggie was a gift in life, and Maggie’s family chose to continue that legacy, blessing two other families by donating Maggie’s organs.

Read the following story that Maggie Lee’s dad, John, wrote and then we’ll get to the part where you can do something good:

I was recently digging around in the outer flap of my computer bag.  Some say it is my manbag, but I carry no such item.  As I was hunting for a cord for my computer, I found something I had not seen since early into this nightmare.  It is a small zip lock bag, with “Speciman Bag.  BIOHAZARD.” and directions with four steps on how to insert something into it.  Inside the bag is something very non-biohazardous, but something that must have been inserted with a few tears, a measure of compassion and perhaps a prayer.

Inside the bag is a ring that Maggie Lee was wearing when they found her. It’s a ring that Jinny bought for her when she was coming back recently from a trip to Knoxville, one to serve as an encircling reminder of how much she believes in Maggie Lee.  It was given to her to wear while going off to Camp Crestridge for two weeks of camp, where she didn’t yet know anyone and would be 900 miles from home.  Jinny knew she wouldn’t know anyone at camp and wanted her to remember how much she believed in her and her dreams even though they would be apart.”

Jinny is the greatest encourager I know.  It’s a gift of hers and she is more than willing to pour it out liberally on anyone she sees.  If you know Jinny, you know its generous, loud and completely heartfelt.  It is the fuel in my tank and it is dispensed constantly in our house to accomplish anything from taking a math test, preaching a sermon or even to pulling a tooth.  I had no idea she gave this ring to Maggie Lee, but it doesn’t surprise me at all to learn of it tonight.

As I read the ring, the words stood out to me, especially as I think of how they are so fitting of the way Maggie Lee lives her life.  Engraved on the ring are these words:

Dream.  Fly.  Dance.  Sing.

I believe that Maggie Lee is dancing and singing right this minute in the presence of her Father.  And I’m so touched by the offer from Amy Peters who designed the ring that Maggie Lee’s mom bought for her.  Go here to check out Amy Peters’ Studio and the really cool jewelry Amy designs.  For any purchase made with the promotion code MAGGIE, Amy Peters Studio will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency.  And Maggie Lee’s sphere of influence in her short life continues to grow.

Shopping for cool stuff and doing good at the same time.  Cool.