“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”
~ Fred Rogers
During this past week, we have seen an abundance of helpers…
On Wednesday evening, our pastor, Dr. Duane Brooks, sent out a plea for bottled water for the 300 residents and workers at Parkway Place, where several of our senior members live. Due to the scarcity of water, help was mainly dependent on what people already had at home or could find in stores. Water was gathered at the church from 9:00-11:00 on Thursday morning. Volunteers then delivered the 2,600 bottles of water that had been collected to Parkway Place, to help them make it through the freeze.
Astros players, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve, teamed up and gave $50,000 to provide 25,000+ meals to families impacted by the big freeze. Correa expressed, “Jose and I feel that this joint effort is a small way to express our commitment and gratitude to the community that means so much to us. Hopefully, we can inspire others and together relieve some of the suffering caused by this natural disaster.”
A delivery driver dropped off packages at a house. Noticing a shovel leaning against the porch wall, he took the time to shovel the snow off the walkway leading to the front door.
Four young boys saw an elderly lady shoveling off her front walkway, with the driveway to be next. They asked if they could do the task for her so she could go inside and be warm.
Bonnie Valdez lives in San Antonio, Texas. Last week, when the temperature warmed up enough, she drove to check on her store. The first thing Bonnie noticed was the 140 cases of water, that had been ordered and delivered outside of her store, had been taken. When she opened the sliding doors, she saw a pile of money that had been slipped through the two doors to pay for the water. Bonnie Valdez collected $620, even though her store was not open for purchases.
Chelsea Timmons was making her last delivery in the hilly Austin area before heading home to Houston. As she pulled up the steep driveway, her car slid down the icy driveway and ended up stuck in the flower bed. She texted the residents to let them know their groceries had arrived and her car was stuck. Doug and Nina, the homeowners, came out to see if they could help her push the Rav4 back up the driveway, but it was not possible. Ms. Timmons tried calling tow drivers to get help, but due to the freezing and icy condition, it was taking a long time. Nina and Doug invited Chelsea to wait inside with them instead of in her car. When it was apparent the conditions were worsening, and the car couldn’t be moved that day, Ms. Timmons was invited to come inside their home to stay. Each day they tried to see if the car could be moved. Chelsea offered to go to a hotel, but was told the guest bedroom would still be the best place for her. Making the best of the situation, Chelsea helped cook, bake, and do things around the house. After five days, the car could be moved and it was safe to travel back to Houston. Upon arrival home, Chelsea found out the power had been out at her apartment, whereas she had been in comfort for five days. Condon said, “We would hope that if our daughters were in a situation similar to Chelsea, that there would be someone that would treat them like we treated Chelsea. I don’t think we ever thought twice about it.”
And an abundance of helpers were seen around Houston.
* People checked on others and helped out when possible.
* Neighbors delivered snacks/food and hot chocolate.
* Groceries were shopped for and delivered.
* Laundry was done for those without water and/or electricity.
* Neighbors shared firewood, power from generators.
* Churches and businesses offered their facilities as warming stations and distribution centers for food and water.
* People, with four-wheel drive vehicles, helped pull cars back on the road, made deliveries, and rescued people.
* Friends and neighbors, with connections to plumbers and other helpers, offered information and assistance to those in need.
* Those with electricity and water opened their homes to those who were without.
* People helped pull out wet carpet, take out wet sheetrock, and clean up debris.
What a blessing to see and hear about so many people being the hands and feet of Jesus during these challenging days. Even without electricity, Jesus’ light shined brightly. May that continue, catastrophe or not.
Jesus relied” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Matthew 22:37-40
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
