...the ladies who express their compassion by providing meals at funerals and family visitations. They’re usually behind the scenes. But they use their talents to make life a bit more tolerable during loss. Food women. The ones who brought the casseroles and banana pudding to the church lunches we had in the church in Neosho growing up. The ones who fed the whole church on Wednesday nights in Wilmington (along with enough fresh vegies brought in by F. W. Mattox from his garden). The ones at Highland who fed our extended family when Megan died.
It got me thinking about all the quiet servants who have been part of churches in my life... growing up in Oxnard... 15 years in Cabot, AR... almost 14 years at Sugar Grove... 2+ years here at Eastside... even those who have blessed me or made an impression at churches we touched by in other ways.
If you think about it for just a few minutes, my guess is that images of many men and women you know and have known will begin to drift through your memory. Some who are like the food women Mike talks about... some who always seemed to know when jobs around the building or the parsonage needed to be handled... others who have a sense of when it's the best time to pray or cry with someone or just be there for them... the ones who lovingly teach and work with our kids... or those who willingly use their spiritual gifts to benefit others and strengthen the church. So many who allow God to use them. Give thanks for them... tell them "Thank you!"... determine to imitate them at their best... as they imitate Jesus.
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