Donovan, one of our church members, shared
a story his family had experienced in the midst of last minute grocery shopping
on the Saturday night of Thanksgiving weekend. He and his wife had divvied up
the shopping list and were waiting in the check-out line. Melissa noted that
she had forgotten to pick-up bananas so quickly went to the fruit area to get
some. She returned with the sad news that the bananas were all gone and no more
were coming until the following week.
As they were wondering what they would
substitute for their kids who loved bananas, the lady in front of them turned
and handed them her bundle of bananas. “Here, take these – I don’t need them
that badly. I can wait until next week.” Despite their protests, she insisted
that they take her bananas. Her willing sacrifice became a “gift of bananas” for
a family whose children would really appreciate them.
As Donovan related this story he was moved
to tears. Gratitude welled up as he reflected on a God who cared so much for
them that He had provided this “gift of bananas” through the kindness of a
complete stranger. At this thanksgiving time of year it was a great story to
remind us of God’s gracious provision and His desire for us to exercise a
spirit of love and generosity in giving to meet the needs of people around us.
This kind act of a “gift of bananas” which
this unnamed woman did for the Mercer family is what you and I can do each day
for others. Keep your eyes and ears open to the opportunities to share God’s
love in “random acts of kindness”.
My wife, Mary, and I were in the Morden
Westside Community Church in mid October. The leadership of the church was
encouraging their congregation to get involved in “Mission Possible”. The
previous week congregants had been given an envelope with a $5 bill inside.
Their mission (should they choose to accept) was to look for a creative way to
use that $5 to bless someone else that week. One of the women shared that as
she had observed volunteer staff working with immigrants and admired their
patience and kindness as they dealt with each individual she felt God wanted
her to bless them with coffee and donuts. She used the $5 bill plus more of her
own money to bring them a refreshing break in the late morning during a lull in
their meetings. She told them how impressed she was with the kind manner in
which they treated each person and she wanted to bless them with the gift of
coffee and donuts. She was amazed at the response – they were overwhelmed by
this one act of kindness on her part. Several of the volunteers broke into
tears and said that no one had ever acknowledged their work before. They were
touched by the fact that she had observed and taken time to encourage them.
That following week the churches in Morden were
encouraging their members to participate in
a “Love Morden Week”. People who are part of a small group
in their church were to come up with an idea of how to love their city. Some
suggestions were to bless a business with baking, doing yard work for some
seniors, fill up windshield washer fluid for cars at a gas station. In their
own way they are “giving the gift of bananas” and brightening someone else’s
day.
The Bible often exhorts us to be kind,
generous and gracious in our dealings with others. Proverbs 11:25 NLT says: “The generous will prosper; those who
refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
