Dear Friends,
I planned to write to you about Isaiah today. But I had a really wonderful moment on Wednesday afternoon, and I want to share that with you instead.
Jamie and I have been frequenting an Ethiopian market in North Park since we started out as foster parents seven years ago in April of 2019. Sometimes we buy other things, but most of the time we just buy injera, the soft, fermented flatbread that is a staple in the horn or Africa, where a number of our kids have come from. The friendly Ethiopian man who works the register always remembers our family and often asks how the kids are doing.
This Wednesday afternoon, I was feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. It seems we've committed to a few too many things in the current season. And I can't seem to stay on top of them all. I was looking at our messy house and wishing I had time to clean it when Jamie got home from a trip to the Ethiopian market. He had chatted with the cashier and shared with him that all of our kids are graduating from high school next month and are busy making plans for college next year. What the cashier said in response brought tears to my eyes when I heard it. He said, quoting the words of Jesus,
"'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' You did these things. It wasn't easy, but you did it."
Most of the time, when we care for others, it's best to make sure not to "let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matt. 6:3 NIV). But sometimes we all need these moments in which we feel seen and are reminded that our efforts are valuable. I know all of you at Coast Vineyard are doing the things named above as well, sometimes in big ways and sometimes in small ways. I hope you too feel seen and valued, and I hope that knowing Jesus is blessed by your service renews your strength and your joy as it has mine this week.
This also seems like a good time to remind you all of the offering for the poor that we have been collecting throughout Lent. I encouraged each of us as we started our Lent fast to give up something that costs money, either big or small, and to bring the money we saved with us on Sunday and put it in the offering box. You can still bring that money any time in the month of April, and everything that goes into the box before the end of April will be given to serve those in need. We'll discuss where to give that money at our annual members meeting on April 26.
May God be near to you and show you his love this week."Let us not become weary in doing good" (Gal. 6:9 NIV).
Love in Christ,
Michelle
