Shelter Sightings

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale 



I've been pondering the above words of Hale.  Deep inside of all of us is the desire to do something large, something that would change someone's life.  Most of us don't have the resources to build a home for a homeless family, to save a life by donating a kidney, or to sponsor a family adopting a  child from overseas.  Somehow we feel like our gift is rated by the largeness--or smallness--of its size.

E. E. Hale seemed to think otherwise. I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.  In my journeys around the web I've found so many kindred spirits who are intent  on doing their "something."  It warms my heart every time I find God's loving people shelter those in their pathway. 


Precious people like Kathyrn at Expectant Hearts.  Several years ago, Kathryn's son, Seth, was born with half a heart and went to Heaven when he was six and a half months old.  Losing a child is heartbreaking--it stays with you forever.  But what was Kathyrn and her husband, Leland, doing over Thanksgiving?  Stocking the Kleenex in the PICU at the hospital who cared for Seth.  Why?  In Kathyrn's words,
"Personally, any family in PICU over Thanksgiving deserves soft Kleenex, in my opinion."  They were sheltering other grieving parents though their own grief is still raw.

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Chrissy is another one offering shelter.  When Chrissy was depressed, her pastor's wife gave her some advice (the same advice my Mother gives to me), "Call someone in the church and see how they are doing."  I don't want to spoil Chrissy's story, so you'll have to read it over at Enriched Living.  She's issuing a challenge for us to contact one person a day for the month of January and I hope some of my readers will take her challenge.

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And then I met the Frans Clan. Momma Frans is a youth pastor's wife with  two young children.  She says, "I love being a youth pastor's wife and the opportunities I'm given to love on teenagers with the love of Jesus."  Besides the teenagers, one of the ways this family chooses to shelter is through Homeless Bags.  Momma Frans explained:

The first time we did it, we took gallon bags and filled them with things like peanut butter crackers, a pair of socks, granola bars, a bottle of water, a bar of soap, toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, etc. The ones my kids put together the other day were 2 gallon bags, and they added a hand sanitizer and a warm hat and gloves since it's cold outside.  We keep them in our car so we have them on hand when we see a homeless person.  We have some areas of town where they stand on the corner with their signs, so we usually hit those spots.

Don't these ideas touch your heart?  They did mine and I'm hoping you will try these or let them spark an idea of your own.  I will leave you with the story of a sweet shelter that touched someone dear to me.

My  niece (and namesake), Pam, is an amazing young woman.  She has three beautiful daughters, the youngest with special needs.  Pam homeschools her oldest and keeps up with all Maddy's therapists, sings in the church choir and so much more.  She's bubbly, joyful and loves being a Mama.  But this week, sweet Maddy was sick.  Actually all three girls had been sick off and on for three weeks and Maddy was going to have to see a doctor.  Pam's post on facebook immediately brought a response from Diana: So sorry....how may we help you? Perhaps some warm muffins or a loaf of cottage cheese bread? We will be out your way this evening.  Later that evening I read, I feel guilty and oh so happy that Diana brought us homemade cottage cheese bread and chocolate cake squares! 

I don't know why I am always surprised when I find God's people sheltering others.  I thought my readers would be encouraged by others around the world who are reaching out their sheltering branches --  Others saying, I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do. 

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 Bread Maker Cottage Cheese Dill Bread

Make a loaf to take to someone who's a bit under the weather.

2/3 cup warm water 

2/3 cup cottage cheese
2 tablespoons margarine
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon dry milk powder
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon dill seed

1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast

Measure ingredients into the machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. 
Use the dough setting.  After the first rising, take out of machine and put it in a bread pan.
Allow to rise again, then bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

(If you prefer, it's fine to bake the loaf in your machine.)

This post is linked to A Few of My Favorite Things.