Main Street Minute
By LaVonne Carrington
Contributing writer
Yesterday, I spent time remembering a friend who died alone in her home several weeks ago. No one knew she had died until many days later.
Tragic.
And I am so very sad that she was alone when she died.
This person had a lot of problems. In fact, to be honest, she was one of those people who sometimes makes us feel weary.
Ministering to her was a challenge. Don't get me wrong; there were several people here at MSM who reached out to her. Thank God for them! But, I feel bad that I was not one of them.
She had a friend who was faithful to call and check on her frequently. She ministered to her with a kind of love that the Bible refers to as "agape."
This type of love has been explained to me, and if I understand correctly, it means loving the unlovable, or loving unconditionally. I am grateful this woman loved our friend this way, and faithfully ministered to her for so long. May God richly bless her for her willingness to serve.
I am ashamed to admit that I did not have that agape kind of love for our friend. I prayed for her, I didn't give her the loving support and affection that I now feel like she needed.
I'm realizing that sometimes, God places people in our lives who are difficult for us to love. Many times we just don't want to be bothered. We have gotten to know them well enough to realize they are just too much "trouble" to get too friendly with. I'm so sorry! Now, she is gone, and it is too late for me to affect her life in any way.
But there are certainly others like her. God places them in front of us every single day. The way I think about them, and plan to minister to them, has changed forever! This young woman's death has dramatically changed me. I am so grateful to God for what He has shown me through this experience. But, I will never forget the young woman whose life slipped away
Lillian Bookless and staff are called upon almost daily to minister to those who, some people in our society have labeled, unlovable. We ask you to pray that God will give us strength and resolve for the task. Pray for us, all of us, above all else, to love unconditionally.
Matthew 22:37-39: Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself."
Friends, sharing your abundance with those in need who come to our food bank, is one way you can certainly show this kind of love for your neighbor. And right now, the need it great. Many of our shelves are empty.
Here's a short list of items needed: canned fruits and vegetables, box hamburger and tuna dinners, eggs, peanut butter, jelly or jam, pancake mix and syrup, flour and sugar (bulk is OK), canned meats, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti sauce, canned beans, canned and dry soups, instant potatoes, shampoo, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels), feminine products.
You can bring your donations directly to the MSM office at 415 S. Main in Hillsboro, or call me at 947-3393. Of course, monetary donations are always appreciated, especially now as summer heat has taken quite a toll our utility budget. God always provides through His people. Thank you so much for your faithful giving.
Thank you to those volunteers who participated in our summer lunch program and fed the "lunch bunch." It was a lot of fun. But a very special thank you goes to Debbie Oelke, who made sure all the meals went off without a hitch! Deb, you're amazing! And your faithfulness to the kids and to God really paid off.
