The past three weeks I spent several afternoons volunteering in a church office
that had been turned in a Disaster Relief Room. There was some chaos the first
couple of days as the Shelter personnel learned their new responsibilities.
After hurriedly learning the multi-phone system, I spent much time answering
questions and getting calls to the correct person.
Between phone calls, I made calls to the enormous list of names of those who had
gone through Red Cross training a few days before.
My family, the church we attend, and thousands from the small city we call home
had turned out en masse volunteering their services to help make the evacuees
from Hurricane Katrina comfortable. We fed them three meals a day and furnished
them comfortable beds.
The transportation committee spent hours driving them to the doctor, Social
Security office and County Health Office, bank, post office and other places
they needed to go. A team of nurses and doctors stayed 24 hours a day at the
shelter to care for their medical needs. For protection, local policemen took 8
hour shifts around the clock.
We were all a team determined to show God's love through simple acts of kindness
freely given to our new neighbors.
One afternoon a call came in from a couple who had planned to help serve the
evening meal. An emergency would prevent their being able to come. My husband
was out of town and I didn't have to fix supper at my house that night. So I
volunteered to go down to the kitchen immediately after the office I was working
in closed for the day.
Degenerate back problems would not allow me to stand on the concrete floor for
very long. But in the short time I was there helping prepare the meal a lovely
lady came to the counter.
"May I have a sandwich?" She asked.
Talking further with her I discovered she had been gone at lunchtime and was now
hungry. Joyfully, I opened the huge refrigerator and brought out the turkey and
cheese. It was such a small chore to make the sandwich and give it to her.
Little did I know the impact that tiny act of kindness would have on me a few
hours later.
The next morning I opened up our local paper and there on the front page was a
picture and story of the sweet lady I had made and served the sandwich to. She
told of the horror she had gone through escaping from the hurricane a few days
earlier. The two jobs she had previously worked were now completely ravaged by
the storm. She was homeless and helpless, completely at the mercy of those who
were providing her needs at our shelter.
As I sat there and read her story, I heard loud and clear in my spirit, "When
you have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
What a revelation! It was only a sandwich furnished by other volunteers but God
spoke directly to me as I stared at the face in front of me.
I knew there was rejoicing in heaven as God looked down upon the thousands and
thousands of volunteers across our nation feeding, giving money, clothing and
sharing hospitality to Hurricane Katrina evacuees. So many people were serving
and loving wherever they were needed.
These acts of mercy did not depend on our wealth, ability or intelligence. They
were simple acts of kindness freely given.
During this national tragedy known as Hurricane Katrina that has hit our nation,
I pray that we have all glorified our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
by reflecting our love for Him through a simple sandwich, a cold drink or a much
needed hug.
Melva Cooper Melva@melvacooper.com
Melva Cooper is a grandmother from Jonesboro, Arkansas. She encourages many,
both in print and on the Internet, with stories from her heart. Her two most
recent published projects can be found in "Chicken Soup Celebrates Grandmothers"
and "Soul Matters for the Heart." Her most recent 2TheHeart stories are "Peace
and Joy" and "Beautiful Scars", found in our archives:
http://www.2theheart.com/stories_2005 More of Melva's writng is also found
on her beautiful web site:
www.melvacooper.com
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