An Open Hand

An Open Hand

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

James 2:15-16

I had been telling myself for months that I needed to clean out my closet. The last straw came when I couldn’t find a hanger for my new shirt. In fifteen minutes I pulled out a fourth of my clothes and bagged them up. That night I took them to the teen-mom support group that I lead. I offered them to the girls, and within five minutes all the clothes were spoken for. The saddest part is that I’d been mentally judging their too-tight clothing choices for months. What I hadn’t realized was that they would be happy to get new ones that fit better. That night I prayed that God would show me how to do more—sooner. That’s something the Amish do well. My friend Suzanne Woods Fisher talks about a grocery shower at a small Amish store:

Long metal shelving is filled with staples such as sugar, salt, flour, and lots and lots of bulk candy. There’s another distinctive feature in this simple store. A cardboard box, placed near the register, with a handwritten sign on its front: “Grocery Shower. For Sam and Maryann Stoltzfus. Maryann has had two surgeries for gall bladders. Expenses are high. Let’s help.”

Rebecca, whose family runs this village store, explains it is an Amish custom to have a grocery shower box. “It’s a way we have of taking care of our own. There’s always someone who needs a little extra help.” The box is overflowing with goods.

“Tomorrow,” Rebecca adds, “there will be another box. Just learned of a couple whose baby was born a preemie.” She said that in most communities, a week or so after a wedding, friends have a grocery shower to help fill the couple’s pantry.

Do you know someone in need? If so, consider what you can do today to help that person. Don’t let the sun set until you reach out a hand of help.

Dear heavenly Father, You’ve given me so much! Show me what I can give and to whom today.