IT'S FREE! :)21:34 Jun 10 2010
Times Read: 821
You hear "FREE BREAD!" as you stop at a stop sign. A short, reasonably harmless-looking lady wearing a name badge from the Center stands in front of their food bank holding wrapped and labeled hoagie rolls, cinnamon rolls, and muffins. She smiles at you when you look and says convincingly, "It's free!" Would you stop, even to ask what's up? Would you drive away?
Let me tell you about my crazy day today. We got in a shipment of food to the Center. It was wonderful stuff, but a portion of it was baked goods like breads, cakes, bagels, etc...
Because we already had so much, we needed to share the blessings. We immediately called another food bank and some other ministries. We were able to find homes for some, but not all of the baked goods we needed to liberate. The staff and employees know me...I do not like to waste food. It does not go past expiration dates on my watch...SOOOOO
Guess who made up a sign that said "FREE BREAD" and stood in front of the Center handing them to people who would roll down their car windows. What an experience! My daughters even stopped by and got into the act.
I think what surprised me most was how many people wouldn't roll down their windows even though I'm in front of a ministry and wearing a name badge. I think there are several reasons...worry because they didn't know me and I'm handing out food. Embarrassment...nicely dressed ladies weren't big on rolling down their windows to even see what we were doing. And maybe just mistrust and fear in general. The funny thing is, there were no catches...just free bread that came in today that anyone could have.
Now let me tell you the fun parts. Our mailman took a loaf. A little boy on a bike who lives in the neighborhood, maybe 14 years old said, Thank you for doing this and God bless you." The woman who asked in a surprised voice, "Why are you doing this?" The truck full of men who asked, "Hey, are those cookies?" The police woman who said, "I'll share these at the office." The woman who took angel food cakes because she was heading to an assisted living center.
Mostly, it was seeing people looking so shy about receiving bread, believing that there was no catch, smiling, saying thank you, hearing "God bless you" with no strings attached.
Remember my big outside freezer? Remember how I dreamed about it and wanted it so much? Remember me saying, "You could park a Buick in there!" Well, it is up and running and full. A volunteer turned to me today and said, "Hey bosslady, we need a bigger freezer!" The generosity of others always reflects my faith back to me. How can you not have faith when you see mountains moved each and every day? I'm so grateful for and humbled by the beautiful things human hearts can do out of love for others.
COMMENTS
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imagesinwords
02:00 Jun 24 2010
Bloodlife rocks.
BLOODLIFE
08:42 Jun 24 2010
Wow, I am so blushing. I do like being called a 'boy' at my age.
To think all I asked for was a game of scrabble :-P
Joli
17:26 Jun 24 2010
Don't you love the word, "menchismo?" I coined it just for you! *mwa*
BLOODLIFE
08:42 Jun 25 2010
A word coined just for me! You really are the sweetest. x