Two brothers from Brooklyn, New York – Mike and Nick Fiorito, began the benevolent effort six years ago.  They wanted to find a way to help the world become more kind.  One way they found to spread kindness was to purchase blankets and give them to homeless people who were living on the streets of New York City.  They called the blankets, “blankets of hope.”

The project became a global nonprofit called “Blankets of Hope.”  The organization “helps students practice empathy and kindness in an impactful service-learning experience,” according to the nonprofit's website.  The nonprofit partners with schools by involving children in acts of kindness.  The school children write notes of encouragement which are affixed to blankets which are donated to homeless shelters or given directly to people living on the streets.  A school in New York has sent many of the blankets and notes to Ukrainian refugees who have fled their homes due to the invasion of Russian forces.

Since September, 50,000 children have written notes and sent blankets to around 50,000 people in need, according to Herndon Graddick, director of the Blankets of Hope nonprofit.

In the article about “Blankets of Hope,” another child was pictured holding a handmade sign which reads: “You are loved.”

“You matter.”  “You are loved.”  What wonderful messages of encouragement wrapped in blankets of hope.

These same messages have been sent from God, the Creator and Sustainer of life, to all of us.  His love has been demonstrated in many ways:

Our very existence is an expression of God’s love.  Humans were created in the very image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).  He loves us because He made us.

He created the world in which we live which has the environment which is “just right” for us.  We have air to breathe, food to eat, water to drink, and all of the things we need.

The greatest expression of God’s love for us is seen in the cross of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  Each of us was created in the image of God but that image has been marred by our sins.

But God still loves us.  So God, because of His great love for us, provided a way for our redemption from sin so that we can live eternally with Him.

God gave His one and only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8).  Only the sinless Son of God could pay the price for our sins, and He did.  “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

God will save from sin and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Yes, “you matter” and “you are loved” by God.  If you question His love, consider the cross.  Jesus died for you so that you can be saved.  Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation and eternal life?