Changed expectations

We delivered our Thanksgiving basket today.

Gary and I have been thinking about Thanksgiving since the end of October.  We wanted to do something for the "poor and oppressed" in our community.  We tried to volunteer at the big Rescue Mission dinner. . . but our kids aren't old enough.  We really wanted to do something together as a family!  My sister mentioned that they had put together a box for a family during the Thanksgiving season and had delivered it--this seemed right up our alley.  We couldn't find an organization in Holland that was doing this.  Hmmm  what to do?  Should we just buy some goods and donate them?  Wonderful yes, but we wanted our kids to see a face--build a relationship (not really) of sorts.  Relationship probably isn't the right word--perhaps put a relationship together between the real poor and us.  I'll have to think about that one.

ANYWAY, on facebook a couple of weeks back a former student posted that the non-profit that she works for was needing families to partner with a needy family and deliver a Thanksgiving meal.  What?!?  Isn't this what we had been hoping for?  Sign up we did.

We received the confirmation e-mail and were told that we would receive our family in the next couple of days.  More than a couple of days went by and we hadn't heard.  I contacted the organization and they told me to call Shawn.  After several back-and-forth with Shawn, we had our family. . . well. . . we had a woman.  It wasn't exactly the "family" (5-6) I had signed up for, but Cinida was 78, spoke only Spanish, and needed a Thanksgiving meal.  We were in.  We discussed what we would bring. . . we looked at the suggestions. . . we called her friend Zida who would translate for her.  Yes, she would be home on Wednesday morning.

The ducks and I loaded up the box and then buckled up for our "long ride" to Grand Rapids.  The trip took us about 20 minutes. . .long compared to our usual trips.  :)  Now here is the thing.  This morning I was praying and I asked God to prepare us for this. . . to give us the right heart.  See. . . I wanted something out of this but I realized that it wasn't about me.  Why was I doing this?  Why do I donate stuff?  Why do I volunteer?  Often because it makes me feel good.  God didn't ask me to give a meal because it made me feel good.  Cinida needed a meal.  We were responding and I prayed for the right heart and for the right words for both her and for my ducks.  I wanted to see what God wanted us to see.

We drove up to her house, and as we tumbled out Garrison announced that she must be "really poor because look at these steps mom".  We quietly discussed about how we would talk about that in the car and talking about it loudly might make them feel bad.  Garrison knocked and smiled his big smile as the door was cautiously opened by a shirtless male.  Garrison tried to walk in.  "Wait Garrison.  Hi.  We are here to drop off a Thanksgiving meal for Cinida."  "Oh, yeah.  Thanks."  He took the box and closed the door.  Penny had just make it up the steps.  The three older ducks looked at me and Garrison began to cry.  I ushered them back into the van and we had a chat.  "We drove such a long way and now we have to drive a long way home again."  We continued to talk as the neighbor opened his door and watched us.

I'm thankful that God had prepared my heart.

What I wasn't prepared for is what happened 15 minutes later.  We drove into Grandville and my kids saw a bunch of garbage on a sidewalk.  It was filled with fast food stuff that had spilled out all over the place.  I'm confident someone had enjoyed their meal and then emptied their car as they traveled.  "Mom!  We need to stop.  Someone left trash in God's creation.  God wants us to take care of the world and we need to pick up that trash."

I tried to talk my way out of stopping and then realized that I needed to stop.  They needed to right a wrong and I needed to let them.  We stopped and picked up the trash while I reminded myself to have them wash their hands when we got home.  God does say to take care of the world and my little ducks had heard the call.  Noel has prayed every day that "all the orphans will soon have a mom and dad" since we had Orphan Sunday at church.  I have a heart for the orphan, and I have not prayed every day.

God taught them today through me.  God taught me today through them.  God taught all of us through a box with a ham, stuffing, applesauce, soup, jell-o, potatoes, corn, dessert, and rolls.  I think that makes Him happy.  Me too.