First Day in the Kitchen

One day I was watching Real Basketball Wives ( none of them were even married to basketball players) and the ladies went to a Soup Kitchen to volunteer feeding the homeless. Well I am not a basketball wife but I am currently a real housewife, and I thought it would be good to add volunteering  in my local community to my to do list. Today was my first day volunteering at a local soup kitchen. I helped feed over 50 homeless people, and the experience was life changing to say the least. I didn't realize we had that many homeless people in Huntsville. Although I've spent a lot of time doing community service and volunteering over the years, I have never had an experience with homeless people or an experience like that. I straightened clothes in the thrift store and then served food. They were so thankful and grateful for our help. One guy showed pictures of his adult kids in Chicago, and talked about one day getting himself back together again. One lady had a cellphone and was able to get his daughter online to chat via facebook. He was so proud of his kids and talked about getting himself together so that they could be reunited again. I served and observed in awe of the diversity: young ,old, male, female, black, and white, communing together thankful for a hot meal and a warm place to refresh themselves for a couple of hours. Before meal time we had scripture reading and prayer.It took a lot for me to hold back tears as the scene really touched the core of my being. The scripture reading was about love in action. It came from Romans 12:9-21 which reads as follows:

Love in Action

 ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:    “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

It was so quiet you could hear a penny drop as many sat  and nodded in agreement with the Word. We prayed for each persons warmth, safety, peace, and protection among other things. Then we served potatoes, peas,and fish with cake for dessert. So many were so thankful that I actually acknowledge them, shook their hands, and asked their names during conversation. I could tell some were not use to being treated like real people by strangers. I was truly humbled by the experience. I pray that as I continue to move forward that I am able to continue to show love in action, helping those in need in a real tangible way.