So many folks care so much!

Happy Tuesday to one and all on this last day of September 30, 2008. While I often tell people we are homeless at the moment until we get our house restored, I happen to know that we have been overwhelmed by the offers of support from our family, our friends, and in particular, our Church family. We do have a place to stay in our eldest son’s home and they have been wonderful to us. Also, please note that when I use the word ‘homeless’ I would never under any circumstances poke fun at those who are. There is a true sense in which we should seriously consider walking a mile in the other fellow’s shoes before we begin to criticize or make light of their situation. We have been offered much in the way of housing and temporary shelter until we get everything recovered. The folks making the offers are serious and they are persistent. Even this past Sunday folks were telling me about using their lake home or rent property or house they are waiting to sell. I may very well end up taking one of these gracious offers but at this time I want to get through the early phases of the insurance process in order to better evaluate the options available to us.

We have received monetary gifts from our family and while we did not have a desperate need for this type of support, it has been of tremendous help during this transition period where our daily living expenses have risen significantly. I know we will eventually recover our additional spending but meanwhile we are continuing to incur the ongoing costs involved in our damaged property as well as the extra costs of commuting and living outside our area. My point in today’s blog is to reflect on the caring and generous spirit we are privileged to be a part of, beginning with our families and extending to our brothers and sisters in Christ. I will be the first to admit that my DNA came with a strong ‘do for yourself’ component. At the same time I remember our pastor’s comments just after the storm. He reminded us there comes a time when we should allow our feet to be washed for our own good as well as the good of the one who desires to do the washing. We expect to know more about our choices this week.

This past Sunday I was able to teach my Bible study class for the first time since Ike messed up our schedules. The first half hour of our class was taken up with prayer requests for friends, family, and other members who have suffered losses as a result of this hurricane. One lady in our Church who has been near and dear to us for over thirty years fell and broke her hip as she tried to navigate her way in the middle of the night at her son’s home where she had taken shelter. She was not a direct casualty from Ike but as she will be spending several weeks now in a rehab center, she no doubt will not soon forget his influence on her life. One fellow here at the company told me the other day that he and his wife had helped clear debris from a young couple’s property because the husband had experienced a mishap felling a tree and was in the hospital with a badly crushed leg. This is why we need each other. This is why we are called on to feel the pain and respond with love, compassion, and to put shoe leather power to our concern. Join us in thanking God for so many who have responded in this way to us! Amen, and may God bless us all as we seek to serve Him. …..More later.