For the past few days,
they said that snow was going to come. We knew this was coming. I had my doubts
due to the multiple times that storms are imminent, and then the winds change
and it snows everywhere EXCEPT Bloomington-Normal,
but this time, the winds didn't change. By 3pm yesterday, it was technically, a
blizzard, big, wet snowflakes and high winds.
Everything for the
afternoon and evening began to be cancelled. Officials were calling everyone to
stay off of the roads.
Our Christmas dinner was
scheduled for 5:30.
I was so excited
for the first snow, I really was. I was smiling and giddy as the first flakes
fell. I had a problem though. In that giddiness, there was a nagging in my
heart. They were out there.
Back in August, I met
some people who live in tents. These aren't just "homeless people",
they are Russ, Will, Michigan, DD, Faith, Chris, Julie...the list goes on. They
were out there. My friends were outside in the snow.
I considered
rescheduling the dinner for a moment, but as I thought about how that
conversation would go...
Hey DD, we aren't going
to be able to have the dinner tonight. You know, the one where we planned to
bless you with a warm meal, new gloves, hand warmers, coats, heaters, blankets,
etc. Yeah, well, it's too cold and the roads are dangerous, so...
...I quickly realized that wasn't going to happen.
Instead, I called Dave
and said, "We can't wait until 5:30. Go over there and pick up everyone
you can find."
Within an hour, Dave had
a van-full. I had to borrow my friend's van to get the kids and I to the
church.
We had a wonderful warm
dinner. There was plenty for everyone.
We gave gifts.
There were tears as we
handed them personalized stockings. Beautiful.
There was laughter as
the guy with no teeth pulled a toothbrush out of said stocking.
There were tears when
they opened “just what they needed”.
There was amazement when
they opened “how did you know I needed that?”
God is so good.
He has brought us to
this place, to these relationships. We will continue to walk with Him and honor
Him.
As if that dinner weren't enough, we ended the night with a giant
slumber party at our house. I slept so well knowing that everyone I love was
warm and safe.
