God Is So Good!

I don't know where to start in telling my stories of the week and have the words convey what is in my heart.  I'll just do the best I can and hope for the best. 

I have written many times about how much I love my church.  The music...the pastors...the friendship of The Faithful--all contribute to the reason that I drag myself out of bed early on Sunday mornings to attend the first service, then stay for Sunday School.  It is the one time all week that I can concentrate on my relationship with God.  I fall pretty short in that department, which is why I NEED to be in church each week. 

When I first started attending Sunday School about three years ago, I was broken.  Things at home had fallen apart.  Several times in class, when it came time to share "joys and concerns", I just sat and blubbered about my troubles, and they listened in sympathy and love.  Then, as I slowly began to recover, I could be more of an active member rather than just a needy sponge, soaking up every little bit of emotional help I could get.  I have come to see my SS class--a bunch of retired old folks like me--as a lifeline to share the stresses of the days.  In short, they have become friends.

I don't do much at church.  I sometimes help with the homeless feeding mission.  I volunteer for bereavement dinners for folks that I know.  I attend some functions and help with some functions, and I make some phone calls for our Angel Tree mission at Christmas.  I teach class during a yearly quarter when it is my team's turn.  I pay on my pledge each week.  I do what I can, but I have been very careful not to commit to anything that I feared I wouldn't be able to follow through on...  (The couple that leads our SS class is everywhere, doing so much that it makes me feel guilty!)  Anyway, I'm trying to build an atmosphere with this, so far, so you can understand what comes next.

I am friends with many former students on Facebook, most of whom are now adults raising families of their own.  A couple of years ago, I got wind that one of them was in a tight money-pinch and didn't have the funds to feed her kids until a disability check came in.  (Long story.)  Anyway, I met them in Mooresville, gave them two bags of groceries and $50 just to tie them over.  She is married with four children--her two and his two, both from previous relationships.  He is disabled and she almost is...  The children are pretty bright and doing fairly well in school.  This school year, they moved to Plainfield.  They don't have much, but they seem to be as happy as can be. 

For this Christmas, my daughter told me that she and her family decided to buy for another family instead of spending so much on themselves.  She asked me if I had a source of names of people who needed help.  I immediately thought of this family, but hadn't talked to Amy for a long time, so didn't know how they were doing.  I ran into the church secretary in the grocery store and asked if we had a list of families in need of help.  She said no list...just a recommendation, if asked.  She also told me that the Family Ministries Fund is in the hole right now.  Bummer!  And just as I was getting up the courage to contact my former student (Amy) to see how they were faring, she contacted me!  She was asking if I knew of somewhere that would provide her husband with a winter coat and some warm pants.  (He had cut his off over the hot summer...and hasn't had a winter coat for years.)

I met Amy and husband the next day (Friday).  We tried Goodwill.  Nothing that would fit him.  (He's a BIG boy!)  We tried Walmart.  No jackets that would fit him, but we were able to get him four pairs of sweatpants, a hooded cardigan sweatshirt, plus hats/gloves for the whole family.  Then we moved to Aldi's where we filled a cart with things that they can't get from a food pantry--meats, dairy, and other perishables, plus TP, laundry detergent, dish detergent, and the like.  I sent them home happy, but without that winter coat.  I told them I would keep an eye out to see what could be done.

This morning (Sunday) I was scheduled to help serve Communion during the early service.  Have never done that before.  In our church, the congregants come to the front in lines to receive the bread, then dip in in the cup, then return to their pews.  In the midst of that, it hit me that I was handing "the Body of Christ, given for you" to the faithful...and I puddled up.  Oh, no!  I can't cry now!!!!  I managed to keep it under control, but I felt so totally honored to be doing that.  It is one of the few sacraments in the life of the church...and I was helping!  And while I was doing that, the choir was singing the recently-found "lost" song of Beethoven--probably the first time the song has been performed in the US!  What a rush!!!

At the end of the service, as I was leaving the sanctuary, a female member of the choir came up behind me, touched me on the back, and said, "I can see that you love to sing.  I invite you to join the choir for our Christmas Eve service."  Wow!  I explained to the gal that I do, indeed, love to sing but that my once-solo-quality voice is now GONE, and that this Christmas's schedule looks like I will be north of Chicago for Christmas Eve.  Still, it was nice to know that someone noticed my gusto in singing...(unless my friends Judy and/or Phil, who sing in the choir, put her up to it)! 

On to my Sunday School class.  When it came time to express "joys and concerns", I asked for help in figuring out where to find a 4XL jacket for the father of the family that I was trying to help.  I told the class about the little voices on my shoulder--one that kept saying things like, "Your grandson's birthday is coming up.  Thanksgiving is coming.  Christmas is coming.  Your car will break down.  You are going to wish you had this money back"...and the other that kept saying, "You helped four children today.  This could be your daughter, your family."  Several suggestions came out of the whole conversation.  Then, at the end of class, one of the guys who sits at the other side of the table came over to me and handed me $60 that several fellows over there put together for me to find a jacket for James.  I was floored!  I hadn't asked, but God had provided!

As soon as I ate some lunch after church, I went in search of a coat with $60 cash in my pocket.  Kohl's had nothing bigger than 2XL.  Same thing with Target.  I was about to go to Penney's when I decided to try the new Burlington Coat Factory in town.  Bingo!  They had 4XLs and even a limited selection of 5XLs.  I bought a fairly nice jacket for $50+tax and hoped to God that it would fit.  Arrangements were quickly made to meet James and family just down the street from me...and the jacket fit!!!  He was SO very grateful to have something warm!  I think it was said that he hadn't had a decent winter jacket in five years because "the kids always need things".  (Oh, how I understand that!)

I guess my lesson for the day is that God provides.  Ask, and you shall receive.  I just feel so honored and humbled...and happy that I, with the help of others, made a difference in a few lives this week.  I accept that I can't do this every day because my resources are limited, but just for today, I feel good!