Sunday, November 24, 2013

Dearest God,

A calling card from Chicago, Illinois, house insulation, a torn restaurant check, two by fours, roofing metal, and more lay scattered across the golf course as we climbed over the hill in Kokomo, an Indiana town hit by deadly tornadoes.  We had come to clean up debris from the storm.  Wondering where it had all come from, I prayed for homes and families hard hit by the storms.

When my husband told me Rotary was going to help tornado victims in a town an hour away I was pleased when you pricked my own heart to step up to help.  I was glad to remember your words to love your neighbor no matter who they are, stranger, friend, or foe.  As my friend and I carried lumber, metal, and torn tree limbs to the road, I was delighted to watch teenagers doing the same.  No complaints, no sitting around, no trying to get out of work; they had a job to do and they were doing it.

So many times today I heard people say, "Do you need help?"  As others were weaving or wobbling carrying something heavy or off balance, someone would ask the question wanting to assist in some way or another.  We were a community of people, of strangers really, who heard your call and were pleased to be asked to do your work.

Thank you,
Compassionate God,
for giving us
a chance
to help you
help your people.

Love, Andrea