Feeding Tummies & Feeding Hearts

Thanksgiving 2010 was by far one of the best Thanksgiving's I've had. The time with close family members was delightful, the meal was delicious, and the memories made were sweet.

I was blessed Thanksgiving afternoon to take my brothers and join other church members at Southside Church of Christ to feed Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless. Tons of church members both young and old showed up to serve wherever needed. It's my prayer that we not only fed tummies, but that we fed the hearts of those we came in contact with. I remember first going out to feed the homeless nearly two years ago...I had no idea what to say to the people we were serving. It was such an eyeopening experience that thankfully brought me out of my comfort zone and naive belief that prostitutes, gangs, druggies and drunks only existed in the movies or big cities. Now when I serve, my favorite place to be is at the table with the homeless, making conversation with them while they eat. These people don't just want a free meal - they can get that anywhere - they want to know that other human beings care enough to sit down and interact with them.

While the homeless were eating their meal and watching the Cowboys game, I was asked, "what difference are you making here?" My answer is that honestly, I don't know. But I do know that Jesus said that when I serve the least of these, I am serving Him. And I get no greater joy than looking into the eyes of the homeless people I come in contact with and knowing that by loving on them, I am serving my Jesus. It's not for me to know what difference I'm making. I only need to be obedient to my God and leave the consequences in His capable hands.