I Don’t Know How To Thank You
The Holidays are one of the times in the year when we have the greatest opportunity to reach out to those in need. In the past several weeks’ phone calls, emails and referrals have come in from our neighbors and community members and they are asking us for help. The help they’ve asked for includes putting dinner on the table, gifts under the Christmas tree and warm clothing in their closets as the temperature drops.
In the conversations we have I learn about their families, their experiences and hardships and I learn about the strength that they have had to endure it all. Not just to get through the hard times, but the strength it takes to ask for help is one that I have often underestimated. I remember as we stand together as a Church that it is us that our community is reaching out to for support.
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2
As a church we represent our God and have the opportunity to be the foundation of faith, hope and love for those in our community who need a hand. We have the abounding resource of true strength that I will never underestimate and that is the strength of our God. This is the strength that we share with those who come to us looking for assistance this Christmas. Those who are strong enough to ask us for help get the strength and love of Jesus in return.
I can’t tell you how many people I’ve had in tears on the other end of the phone. I’ve lost count. The overwhelming sigh of relief that we can help with Christmas gifts, or assist with a Turkey dinner takes just one pressure from their shoulders. But I wouldn’t be able to offer any of these moments of relief, without your help. Without a congregation like ours with a heart of giving, our Food baskets and Christmas Toy Shop would not be possible.
Just as I can’t tell you how many tears of joy have been on the other end of the phone. I can’t tell you how many have been on this end either, because being able to help make this happen is one of the best things in the entire world. Just the other day, near the end of a phone call a client said to me, “I don’t know how to thank you.” My reply at the time is that “It’s a blessing to do it.” But from my end I feel the same way… It is such a blessing to do this and Trinity, I don’t know how to thank you for letting me be a part of this.