A Meal Train (09/13/2024)

Last week our little faith community was rocked by the sudden and unexpected in utero death of an infant. Immediately, members of the community responded by reaching out to the family. Two of the community women, mothers themselves, launched a “meal train” to provide meals for the family of 9 during these most difficult days. Within a couple of days, volunteers for meals for two weeks stepped up. How we handle what happens matters.

Our faith community is small, but size should never be a deterrent when needs arise. I have always marveled at what is possible in seemingly impossible situations. I think of Jesus’ feeding of the multitudes with the scant supply of five loaves and two fish. Faith is a must in these situations, believing that with the LORD all things are possible. But so is love. The kind of love that produces both empathy and compassion. It is part of who we are called to be.

In these situations, people of faith are compelled to go beyond uttering, “How sad.” People of faith accompany the others in their grief and support them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. People of faith begin with prayer for those hurting, but don’t end there. Prayer changes us. Prayer gives us the vision to see what we have that the other may need. Prayer tenderizes us. Prayer opens us to the possibilities of life in our LORD.

As we journey, there will be times, many times, when we share our journey with others who are rocked by tragedy. As we journey, we ourselves may be the ones reeling from loss. Let us pray that we and our community of faith lovingly and selflessly respond to the needs of others along the way.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.