We routinely include writings from our VOH residents as part of the VOH blog. This post was written by one of our residents about the recent service opportunity with Christmas for Everyone. If you were involved in this community outreach program, you may relate to what our resident writes. Regardless, you’re invited to sit down and enjoy what our resident is calling a miracle on Mercy Way.
Earlier today, I was privileged to serve at the annual event Christmas for Everyone, put on by The Red Cross. My job at the event was hosting the families. This job entailed helping each family identify the bags of gifts set aside for them, getting their gifts wrapped,(the wrapping crew was phenomenal!!!) and my favorite part…..and in my opinion the MOST important part of the job…. taking time to talk and get to know the families!
The two families I served this morning were very different in unique ways, but they both had one thing in common: both families were amazingly joyful and incredibly thankful for what they were receiving! It wasn’t a complicated conversation. I just talked with them about their children, plans for Christmas, and simple things such as where we all grew up. Seeing their bright, radiant smiles (and even tears) about made my heart explode then and there, just knowing that on Christmas morning there were going to be very excited children! I’m super thankful that the Lord allowed the paths of those families to intersect mine!
It’s amazing to me to think back to this time last year! I would’ve NEVER been caught dead being around people that, who were (in my self-absorbed eyes) “beneath’’ me. After all, I was a“princess,” spoiled by my family all my life, and everyone lived in MY kingdom! Pretty pathetic, broken and backwards isn’t it?? Matthew 34-40 says:
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
I’ve realized through these past few weeks that by serving others around me I’m serving the amazing God who blesses me in so many ways each and every day! Do I deserve it?? I think NOT!! Serving isn’t about me, it’s ALL for the Lord! Serving is not something I can do half-heartedly or with selfish motives: it just won’t work that way! For so long before coming here to VOH (and unfortunately for a good while after I got here) I continued to chase after broken cisterns that in the moment seemed ’’heavenly.” In reality, these broken cisterns were only a depleting fuel source for my sinful lifestyle of living in and for MY kingdom.
I’m SUPER thankful that time and time again God allowed things to happen that caused me to literally fall on my knees until I fully surrendered and said, “okay, Lord, I WANT TO SERVE YOU WITH MY WHOLE HEART! PLEASE TAKE THESE MEANINGLESS WANTS AND DESIRES AWAY!!”
Although some days are still hard…serving has become something I absolutely love! As the families drove away amidst the gently falling snow, as Christmas music played for all to hear, as people bustled all around, all I could think was….this is DEFINTLEY a MIRACLE ON MERCY WAY!
-Resident, 2013
