I have become very fond of the "peanut butter" lady. From that very first day we brought her peanut butter and then onto underwear, she has become very special to me. Let me update you on her status since the storm. She still has no power and her house is still damaged. Three months later her life is still in rubble. Her sweet husband of many many years fell after the storm. He passed away a few weeks ago and now she is widowed. Her life still in rubble. God is using her to teach me so many things. I often wonder how many blessings we lose, because we do not open our eyes and help those in need. I have been blessed far beyond by helping, than she probably has by our service to her. One Friday her grass was so high and God placed it on my heart to get a team together to cut it. Me, my dad and my step mom decided one Friday we would go cut it. I underestimated how much there was to cut, and to add to it my weed eater was broken. God is so often in the little things, and He continues to teach me to trust in Him. Five minutes later a sweet friend from church pulled up with her weed eater and a willing spirit to help. God provided even in the little things that day! One other situation that came up that day was the pile of trash she had accumulated due to the freezer going out because of no power. It stunk. We made one call to one of our teenagers at 9 am, which is way earlier than He was wanting to get up, but he was there in 15 min loading the trash in his truck and hauling it off. God is so good to us! Fast forward a few weeks, and the grass is knee high and needing attention again. My sweet friend is now staying next door and there is now two yards to cut. I mentioned to a very close friend that her grass was getting out of control, and we really needed to get over there and do something about her yards again. She agreed to meet me last Saturday, with her family to tackle the "yards". Once again I underestimated how much yard work really needed to be done, but God already knew. We had one more friend show up with tools and a willing spirit and my husband was there to help out too. But here is the amazing part...My friend and her family that showed up to help, lost their son to a tragic accident a little over six months ago. The very next day, Sunday would have been his seventeenth birthday. My friend, his mother, gets out of her car with a basket of goodies for our little old sweet friend that lost her husband. She also brought her dinner for that evening. A greiving mother meeting anothers needs...that is all Jesus. My friends husband got on his massive lawn mower that he brought and started cutting her grass, and their youngest son grabbed a push mower and went to work on the front yards. Here is a family that has been rocked to the core, but is still putting God first and ministering to others in need. I was allowed to see the face of God in their eyes that day. As I looked out across those massive yards and saw a family of three, that just six months ago was a family of four, serving our God in the midst of tragedy I couldn't help but tear up, not because of sadness, but because I saw how great our God is. He upholds and strengthens. He used a family mourning to help another one of His children in need and that was mourning. That is real power, that is real strength. I can't help but to praise a God like that. I can't help but to fall in love all over again with a God like that. How awesome that we serve a God that meets ALL our needs no matter how big, or small. We serve a God that uses the broken to help heal others that are broken as well. I remember asking my friend that day, how are you even standing up today, much less helping someone else out with this being your sons birthday, and her response was, "It's Jesus, I don't know what else to do but serve." What an example set before us. It's Jesus.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
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