I can remember the cool fall morning the call came out. At our church we call it “Shout Out”. It is an email that lists the needs of people in our community. Those who are sick, or in need.
Sean was on duty that day, but my girls and I responded to the call. It was for a widow that had just lost husband in a very sudden death at hunting camp. The call was to help around her property. I realized then that death does not stop life. The cows still need to be milked, apples still need harvesting, lawns still need to be mowed.
Life goes on even in death.
We bundled up and headed out to the property. When we arrived, the men were already blowing leaves and mowing. Others were putting away things for the winter, or fixing odds and ends. I could see the widow peering looking through the window periodically. How can I reach out to her Lord? What would I say? I don’t even know her.
We quickly set about our work. I surveyed the scene and saw multitudes of apples on trees, as well as on the ground. I gathered up my girls and the other straggling children and we harvested apples. It took us better than three hours!
My girls had to use the bathroom at some point, so we knocked on the door to ask if we could come in. I introduced myself to her friend who opened the door with, “it is so good of you to come and help….. “ her voice trailed off as she glanced over toward the widow. She looked at me. I didn’t want her to feel the obligation to say anything to me. She nodded, agreeing with her friend. They directed us to the bathroom, and then we quickly headed back outside, not wanting in any way to intrude.
It was a beautiful afternoon. Mom’s raking leaves, kids jumping in the piles……the property looked great when we finished up.
I hugged my new friend and asked her what she wanted done with the apples.
“I will probably just give them away. They will otherwise just sit there and go bad.”
“Can we take them and process them for you?”, I asked her.
“Sure, that would be nice.” I could tell by her response that she could have gone one way or the other. There had been too many other decisions to make lately. Apples were the least of her concern.
Our friends brought the apples to my home in their pick up. 10 five gallon buckets– FULL!!
The next morning I began processing the apples, one bucket at a time. I realized by that afternoon, that it was going to take me a long time to get through them. I didn’t want them to go bad. I called a few of my girlfriends. By the next morning, they all showed up with thier cutting boards, their favorite knife, and apple peelers ready to work. I cannot even begin to tell you what happened around that kitchen table on those afternoons.
We laughed, cried, and prayed for our newly widowed friend. We encouraged one another in our own marriages and as mothers.
By the end of the week, we had processed over 30 quarts of applesauce, and 15 gallon bags of apple pie filling.
We wrapped the jars up in cloth and a ribbon and delivered them to our friend. When she opened the door, her eyes filled with tears. I wonder if she thought we would really come and bring her the goods as we had said. I know that I had been dissapointed in grief, and I could see that same look of surprise in her.
We sat for a few moments, and embraced wife to wife. She missed him. I tried to understand.
Fall was in the air in my home that week. The fragrance of community. The seasoning of friendship and shared hearts as we gathered around the widow and the apples…….
Apple Pie in the Making. The true meanng of the US and why I love this country.
Great Post.
Chris
http://www.thevisitingbrit.com
Chris,
Thank you for stopping by. Yes, we are blessed here.
I hope you come again:–) Storie
This is something we need more of, good old fashioned community and generosity. You help me be a better person.
Debra,
YOU are a great example of this already in your own community. You are the reason I see it! You have inspired me more than you know mom.
I love you. me
This is a really beautiful story. Thank you so much for posting it. I loved the picture you described of everybody doing something to help around the property, it reminded me so much of being Christ’s hands and feet to those around us.
I also loved the way you described you and your friends around the table working and laughing together as you prepared the apples. It inspired me about how God works in every detail to bring blessing. God bless.
You have a way of making lemonade out of lemons! The flower pedals laying on the ground, that most of us walk on, you notice them and pick them up, fill a gobbet with water and lay the petals in the water and arrange the goblets in your home. (or give them away to someone who is hurting).
Most of us would throw old sheets or old fabric away, but you notice them laying there not being used, so you decide to make curtains for your girls or cushions for your chairs.
You have a way of touching people who are hurting and noticing them, like the widow, you saw looking out the window and somehow giving them hope that everything will be OK. When you are in someones life, you give people a little bit of heaven.
Birgit~There is nothing like the body of Christ, is there? It is so beautiful to see the hands and feet working together. I love community.:-)
Pearl, you are so kind. Thank you for loving me like you do friend! You are so precious to me. love, Storie
Storie…
…that was a great story.
I don’t mean good. I mean, great.
You’d think those adjectives live right next door to each other, but they’re actually on opposite sides of the artistic globe.
And you, my dear, took me there. That was…that was just amazing.
When she was at her lowest point, you were the one who refused to give up. When she seemed indifferent, you were the one who showed her love. When she felt like she had lost hope for community and compassion, you were the one who went back…
…and gave her so much more than apples.
You are a most amazing woman. God bless you.
Nor~ It is Christ in me. I felt so blessed to have responded to the call. There is always a sacrafice when we choose to help, or step out. But I have found that the blessings far outweighs any sacrafice. Once again as I was recounting the events of this story, I was reminded that THIS is where I want to live….with a heart of worship in service to my Lord. There is no better place to be. Remebering humbles me again and again.
Thank you so much for your words of encouragment!
God bless you:-)
I know Heaven sighed a sigh of love when you did that. That’s powerful stuff, and I thank God for your servant spirit.
Thanks Daniel
What a beautiful story of community and friendship!
Would have loved to taste some of that homemade applesauce!
wow. that was a beautiful story. you have a beautiful heart.
(and you’re my newest kitchen-hero! i’m so NOT domestic!)