“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
I read a story a couple of weeks ago that’s just too good not to share.
In the small town of Perry, Georgia, a stay-at-home mom, Kimberly Chancy, ran into Kroger to get a single case of water for her family. While she was there, her sister called her and suggested that they cook some meals for Hurricane Irma refugees who were fleeing Florida and south Georgia.
Perry is in central Georgia and sits right on I75, so there were many people coming through. Some could go no further because there were fuel shortages and some were out of gas.
Chancy told People Magazine, “20 cases of water, 20 loaves of bread, and 10 18-pack cartons of eggs later, ‘I realized we were fixing to help somebody.'”
As it happens in small towns they called friends and those friends called friends and something beautiful got started. Neighbors came together and they were planning on delivering 500 prepared meals and 500 sack lunches. Those meals weren’t peanut butter and jelly either.
Nope, those people in Perry, prepared Boston Butts, mashed potatoes, green beans, pecan pie and homemade biscuits, to weary travelers who weren’t sure whether or not they would lose everything.
As Christians, our faith calls us to be the Good Samaritan. Our faith also tells us to practice hospitality. “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13
But what does that look like? Does being a Good Samaritan simply mean tending to people’s medical needs? I don’t think so.
The Good Samaritan helped a fellow, forgotten human being in need. That’s what the people in Perry did.
We often find ourselves with the desire to help others, but wonder what can we really do? There’s so much need in the world and we sometimes find ourselves with so few resources and so little time. Kimberly Chancy pointed out that with $10.00 of Crisco, buttermilk and flour, she could make 250 homemade biscuits.
I suspect those biscuits were like manna from Heaven for some of those weary travelers and I’m sure that their kindness will never be forgotten.
Kimberly Chancy and her friends saw an Esther moment and they took it, and they changed lives. They didn’t have to travel the world. They were able to stay in their tiny home town, doing what they already knew how to do, but serving others in an amazing way.
Kimberly said yes, to her sister’s call and I’ve no doubt, made Jesus smile. Her story inspires me to seek to do the same. Perhaps you needed some inspiration too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂