Sometimes you wonder if all your work really matters. I received this message from one of our church members last week that made me feel that it's worth doing the work of ministry. This church member is a professional who was laid off from her job several months ago and had nothing to cook for Christmas. We encouraged her to visit the food pantry, and this is her story.
So, this afternoon, I went to the Food Pantry at Church. It was the first time I actually stayed and went through the entire process.
Never in my life could I have imagined the love that I was shown by each woman helping me shop for items. Never in my life did I expect to receive so much food when I truly had none, as the blessing you provided me went to pay a utility bill rather than buy food. Each person I encountered at the Food Pantry who was volunteer and who, upon me informing them that I was new to the Pantry and didn't know how it worked, welcomed me and made me feel special. The volunteers not only made me feel special, but they made me feel less alone, as I sat in the back in a single chair with no one sitting beside me.
A few of the volunteers touched my shoulder; the young teenage volunteers greeted me with smiles; one young lady must have known I like to bake and gave me the last, most beautiful bag of everything a baker needs to make cookies or a great cake; the two young gentlemen who helped me to my car almost brought me to tears, as they carefully put each bag away for me - I couldn't thank them enough. As I went to each table, not knowing what to expect, each volunteer and each person made me feel less afraid, less ashamed, and just filled with gratefulness to be there.
Then, I was leaving, two of the women spoke a blessing over me by telling me that my new year would be far better. I told them I was a member of the church and had been laid off, and hadn't expected to use the Pantry but was so incredibly grateful that they were all there. I cried all the way home, thanking God at each stop light.
As I write this believing that 2011 will be a better year for me, I am already thinking of ways to give back; to give to each one of the volunteers I met today and especially the two young men who helped me to my car and the ways in which I might be able to help the Pantry, as I know a few meat business owners who might be willing to donate food as well.
Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for the Food Pantry. Thank you for being a blessing in my life. Thank you to the volunteers whose care of me and dignified treatment made my first Food Pantry experience a less frightening, troubling one. Thank you to those volunteers who smiled at me or touched my shoulder or just wished me a Merry Christmas. Thank you for First United's ministry of God's love in action.
That says it all. I'm ready for the New Year.
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