toy?......toy?

Well, I've waited as long as I could to share this. And a phone call today jogged my memory, so I will stop what I'm doing and post this as best as I can remember. My last blog mentioned the G.R.O.W. event this past Sunday night, and how amazing it was in many ways. I told you about some of the stories that I heard, and the answered prayers. But, I want to share a moment that I witnessed the full effect of "Overflow".

I had just left the worship center, where several of us had been praying for the names that were written on the two boards at the end of each of our services. You remember......the names of people that came to mind during Jon's message that we all felt led to invite to church; invest time with them: and to influence them by the way we live our lives as an example of Christ.... those names. Anyway, I am coming from the worship center and headed to the fellowship area as a group of people are returning from the homeless shelter after delivering coats, and I see my sister-in-law, Sheila. She comes in with this group, but she doesn't have the same expression on her face as the others. I've seen the looks of, "Wow, this was amazing", and "I am so pumped", but she was sad. And when someone would ask her about the time at the shelter, she would be moved to tears. The more that others would try to comfort her, the more her emotions took over. I sat in a chair in the foyer and watched all this "overflow" happening, and I was moved to tears.

Sheila had seen the response of the people at the shelter when they received their coats, and she helped carry in some of the extra coats to place in the clothes closet. That's where she heard "toy?" This came from a small boy standing by his daddy. As more and more coats were being carried in, he would continue to ask for a toy. Sheila could not stop thinking about this little boy and his family there at the shelter. She wanted to do something right then. She felt the need to show this little boy, and the rest of his siblings, the love of Jesus through a toy; a small gift; "overflow". And after she returned to the church, her and Barry made a bee-line to Walmart to pick up dolls and Hot Wheel cars for these children.......and went back to the shelter to deliver the gifts to the family.

I talked with Sheila today. It still brings tears to her eyes,,,,,,,,,and mine. I hope we all can hear what that little boy was saying. I pray that we all can respond in love to people we meet for the first time. I pray that we all can grasp the opportunity to share Jesus. And, if we would just listen closely.......we would hear what is really being said.

toy?........toy?

love?.......love?

Jesus........Jesus