3rd
A banquet
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:13,14
Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, most of us probably can’t even remember what all we ate. But hopefully your day was as blessed as the people who received the donated Thanksgiving baskets. As one of our clients said; “My goodness girl I had so much turkey and fixings that I had to call my sister and invite her over to eat and I don’t even like the girl. But she was so shocked to hear from me, I haven’t talked to her in years; that she showed up in less than an hour.” (Note; I had to clean up some of the words). Almost every where we stopped during outreach Monday and Tuesday we kept hearing words of thanks and the thanks belong to all of you who made this such a joyous, fulfilling Thanksgiving!
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matt 7:1-5 MSG
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Matt 7:1 NIV
Last night was one of the best nights we’ve had in a while, in spite of the rain. People were very talkative, friendly, and just a joy to be with. Then someone shares a story and I’m immediately convicted of my short-comings. Doing outreach is so much like looking in a mirror, you pray with someone about an issue they are dealing with and you are reminded of your own failures. R is a man in his late 30’s early 40’s whom we have known for about 4 years now. We met him through some of the ladies we knew on the street. He would take them in let them get cleaned up and they would pay with favors. He treated the women more kindly that most of the men they had dealings with. About 3 years ago he took in one of the ladies and she has been there ever since. It’s always interesting to stop by and visit them; sometimes it seems that half the neighborhood is hanging out at their place. Well last night someone we know and trust shared a story about R, I don’t think she meant it as a story she was just talking about how much she appreciates R. It seems that R takes care of quite a few of the elderly in the neighborhood, he brings them meals and for the older men who can’t or won’t take care of themselves he bathes them, shaves them, helps them dress and checks on them a few times a day. I’ve always liked R, he has always been a gentleman around us but I categorized him as selfish and weak. I had to talk, pray, and repent all the way home; I didn’t even realize I had put R in a box but hearing the stories revealed my own failings. I love doing outreach but sometimes it’s painful to look in that mirror.
Blessings,
Donna
313-801-2204
P.S. The Christmas donations are pouring in and the 70x7 team is so very grateful for all the blankets, socks, gloves, etc. The next few weeks will be very hectic, sorting, bagging, and delivering so I may not have the time to write an update. Please know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of all of us on the team we are very thankful for your prayers and/or donations.
