Mary and Ray* love to volunteer at Love INC. There are many things they enjoy doing, but for them there is nothing quite so special as being the literal hands and feet of Christ when they make a personal call on a neighbor in need. Today, they will be calling on a family who has been hit hard by one medical crisis after another. There have been multiple surgeries for Andrea* and recently her husband's employer laid him off from a good job after an injury. Now neither can work. They are behind in their rent, the utilities-everything. They have no food for themselves, but even more heartbreaking for them is watching their children go hungry.
Mary and her husband Ray attend a partner church with Love INC whose gap ministry is providing gas cards. This time however, their church family decided to partner with Love INC with more than their usual support. The church has decided to help fill Andrea's shelves with food.
Mary and her husband are excited to shop for and deliver the groceries personally. Together they go to the door, their arms full of bags. The couple is grateful as Mary and Ray set the foodstuffs on the table. When the children look inside the bags, their eyes grow round. "Food, Mama! Food!" Mary's heart tugs as she sees Andrea's expression of joy mixed with pain in hearing their squeals of delight. Ray and Mary smile as they inform them there is more in the car. In fact, the whole back of their SUV is loaded with groceries. Everyone lends a hand in bringing in bag after bag. The cupboards won't be empty for long.
Ray asks the family if they might pray with them. Both Andrea and her husband are willing to have prayer offered up on their behalf. The prayer is full of the Father's love for this family, a time of asking God to help them, strengthen and bless them. As Ray finishes, the family smiles gratefully.
As they get into the car, Mary turns to Ray. "Oh, Ray, did you see those children's faces." Rays expression assures her that he did. Mary and Ray may never see this couple again. Hopefully, they will get back on their feet and their health will return. Whether they cross paths again or not, they made a connection today. Both couples know something special has happened even if only one couple recognizes the hand of God for what it is.
*Names and details have been changed to protect those to whom the stories belong.
