Well, that’s one way to help others!
For one Colorado couple, the idea to help others began with a purchase for their daughter more than 15 years ago.
A giant stuffed giraffe named Sparkles.
Larry McNabb and his wife, Sally, had bought the stuffed toy for their child.
“She loves giraffes, she loves going down and feeding giraffes at the zoo, that’s one of her favorite things to do. So that’s where we kind of got the idea of doing the giraffes,” Larry said.
But when the gift arrived, Sally got another idea.
“I was redecorating my daughter’s bedroom, and I ordered it online, and when it came, I took it out of the box, and it happened to be sitting next to an older convertible that we had,” Sally McNabb recalled.
And I just thought, ‘Gee, I bet that would look funny in the back seat!’”
So Sally and Sparkles went for a quick drive around their neighborhood.
“The kids were all laughing and waving, and so the next day, I drove it to work, and the rest has been history.”
Realizing how much joy this simple giraffe could bring to others, Sally was determined to keep driving with Sparkles.
Larry, however, took a bit more convincing.
“She came and said, ‘Oh, you’ve got to do it!’ I said, ‘I ain’t driving around with no giraffe in the car, Sally!’ ‘Oh, you just got to try it.’ I tried it once and was hooked,” Larry said.
Now, more than 15 years later, the couple never goes for a drive without Sparkles.
Sally and Larry McNabb with Sprinkles the giraffe. Photo courtesy of Sally McNabb
“You definitely drive safe, because you know if you cut someone off, they are going to remember that you were in a red convertible with a giraffe!” Sally laughed.
“I have him strapped down, and then I have him seated with the seat belts,” Larry said. After all, safety first.
But for Sally and Larry, it’s all about making others have a better day and to share what God has given them.
“To share blessing. I mean, really, that’s what it’s all about, sharing blessings and making people smile,” Larry said.
God’s blessed us, so we want to bless others.”
Sally said that the simple giraffe can sometimes have a huge impact.
“One of our favorite things that has happened with Sprinkles is we were coming off the freeway at Woodmen, and we were stopped at the light to make a left, and a large SUV pulled up beside us. And they rolled down the windows, and there was about eight people in the car, and they said, ‘We just came from a funeral, and we’ve been crying for three days. And this is the first time we’ve smiled.’ … That’s why we do it,” Sally said.
Sparkles has even helped Sally cope. After suffering from depression all her life, this giraffe has done something miraculous – it has made her happier.
“I found I felt more joyful because I was consciously doing something to help other people feel happy,” Sally said.
Larry agreed. “It’s hard not to be happy when you’re making other people happy.”
For a look at Sparkle’s adventures, watch below!
