Inspiration Fleshed Out: A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

Inspiration comes in various ways for me and I'm never quite prepared for it. As wreckless as grief can be when it blindsides you during a normal day's activities, inspiration will creep in like a wrecking ball as well. The difference for me is grief will subside as I feel the pain, cry out to God, and thank Him for the opportunity to be impacted so greatly by another human. Yet, inspiration won't leave me. No  matter how much I try to "talk down" the new crazy idea, plans begin to take shape inside my head. Before I know it I'm actually verbalizing the idea with others for feedback.

That's what happened for Thanksgiving Day. The idea popped into my head to use our family  business Graves Grocery as an outreach for the needy as a place to celebrate Thanksgiving. It all started when an elderly customer came in for biscuits for breakfasts. He said, "I can't cook anymore because I can't see well. Yesterday I nearly burnt the house down trying to cook myself something." Then another regular customer who comes in every day for over a year now for his "scrambled egg sandwich", prompted my thoughts that he has no family outside of his twin brother who lives with him. Who will they celebrate Thanksgiving with?

I first went to my family for their blessing to step outside of our traditional family day together. The first response came from my brother, "That's the best idea I've heard of in a long time." One by one each member agreed to venture off our traditional path to spend the day serving our community.

Then I begin reaching out to others more knowledgeable than myself like Fran from the Manna House. She serves thousands on Thanksgiving day. By the time word got out, I had more volunteers and resources than we could even use for the day. I literally had to turn families away from volunteering because we had so many offers to help. There were those who cooked hens for the chicken and dressing. Then my friend Lynette  baked every pie or cheesecake from scratch that was served that day. There were so many who gave monetary donations to help with any expenses. Another regular customer, a business man in the community, asked specifically if there were any funds needed. He didn't want me to be out any for the outreach. I assured him we had been generously provided for our day's needs.

The blessings of family and friends!

 I learned something important from this venture on Thanksgiving Day.

 SOMETIMES THE RESOURCES ARE IN PLACE, A COMMUNITY JUST NEEDS A PERSON TO SPEARHEAD THE MINISTRY. 

I live in a small unincorporated rural community. Yet, I was amazed at the people who reached out to support this endeavor. There were so many verbal blessings, comments on social media, offers to help, money donations, etc..One lady even called from Florida. She said her mother lived in nearby Priceville. She had lost her dad this year. They were looking for something different to do on Thanksgiving to help knowing the holiday would be hard with their loss. Although we had enough volunteers, she was so encouraging over the phone about our outreach. One time I attended a church where the pastor was commenting on church giving. He was saying thanks to the congregation but said, "Your giving is ridiculous it's so abundant." I never forgot that and that's exactly how I feel about my community.

What a blessing it is to be a part of a place where hearts are big, hands and wallets are open, and I'm trusted to manage that honorably.

There weren't enough business cards to send out with plate lunches and I never got around to having a little note to include in each bag that shared my heart about the day. I wanted every person eating to know that because I had experienced the transforming love of Christ it was my hope that in some small way their meal would do the same for them. I wanted them to know they were important to me and to God...that their life mattered. But I'm trusting the prayer covering for the day and our actions spoke louder than business cards or notes.

World's greatest customers and precious friends.

What might God be stirring to inspiration in you? Will you run with it? Start talking about your ideas with a team of friends whose hearts beat for the same purpose.....to share the love of Christ. There are so many creative ways to let people know they are valuable. I hope to hear what ventures the Lord has you on.