Joy
I started baking Sunday afternoon, baked most of the day Monday and this morning Richard loaded the trunk with cookies, brownies, cupcakes and several varieties of dessert bars. Enough sweets for over 125 homeless folks for today with plenty left over for tomorrow.
I spent four hours helping prepare and serve a Christmas mid-day meal at the homeless mission in Kissimmee. Our church serves the mission one day a month. My amazing friend Donna coordinates this effort and wanted this particular meal to be special. It was her idea that home made desserts would help make that a reality.
One man was emotionally overcome by a chocolate chip cookie. He told me it had been so many years since he had had a home made chocolate chip cookie. "There's nothing like a home made cookie," he said. There were tears in his eyes. I wondered what memories that cookie had evoked and almost cried myself.
Of course, it wasn't the taste, smell or feel of the cookie that caused this dear man to get all choked up. It was the love behind the treat. He was probably once some mother's cherished son. Maybe he had had a wife who loved to lavish him with sweet delights warm from the oven.
Most of the diners had thanks and praise for the meal and the variety of home made treats. Truly Donna's idea made it special for these folks who find themselves in hard circumstances. It made it special for me, also. It was like baking for and serving the Lord Himself. I was so blessed, so humbled. I may not bake goodies each time, but I will be back to serve at the mission.
After I got home, Richard and I took off to poke around Orlando and Mt. Dora. We visited quaint hobby shops and after dark we walked around Mt. Dora, a small tourist town where we found a unique little sandwich shop on the second floor of a restored turn-of-the-century building. It reminded me a lot of the coffee houses of the 1960's. We enjoyed a leisurely and delicious overstuffed ham and swiss. I had Chai tea (excellent!) and even ate my chips.
We cruised around looking at lights for a while then headed home, both pleasantly full and slightly tired. We parked and I was once more struck by the great bounty with which we've been blessed. We have a warm place to sleep, indeed, a palace in comparison to so many who live in hovels, if they have a home at all. We have any food we want, all the clothes we need (and then some!), two vehicles, free time, entertainment... We are pampered!
I prayed for home made treats for all those who have been long hungered for such blessings... Home made treats signifying warmth, safety, but most of all the knowledge that someone cares. I pray these men and women will know God cares and I pray that my hands and heart will be ready to deliver His message of love whether it is in a chocolate chip cookie, a warm smile, my time, service and prayers, in any way my Master leads. Therein lies Joy.
I spent four hours helping prepare and serve a Christmas mid-day meal at the homeless mission in Kissimmee. Our church serves the mission one day a month. My amazing friend Donna coordinates this effort and wanted this particular meal to be special. It was her idea that home made desserts would help make that a reality.
One man was emotionally overcome by a chocolate chip cookie. He told me it had been so many years since he had had a home made chocolate chip cookie. "There's nothing like a home made cookie," he said. There were tears in his eyes. I wondered what memories that cookie had evoked and almost cried myself.
Of course, it wasn't the taste, smell or feel of the cookie that caused this dear man to get all choked up. It was the love behind the treat. He was probably once some mother's cherished son. Maybe he had had a wife who loved to lavish him with sweet delights warm from the oven.
Most of the diners had thanks and praise for the meal and the variety of home made treats. Truly Donna's idea made it special for these folks who find themselves in hard circumstances. It made it special for me, also. It was like baking for and serving the Lord Himself. I was so blessed, so humbled. I may not bake goodies each time, but I will be back to serve at the mission.
After I got home, Richard and I took off to poke around Orlando and Mt. Dora. We visited quaint hobby shops and after dark we walked around Mt. Dora, a small tourist town where we found a unique little sandwich shop on the second floor of a restored turn-of-the-century building. It reminded me a lot of the coffee houses of the 1960's. We enjoyed a leisurely and delicious overstuffed ham and swiss. I had Chai tea (excellent!) and even ate my chips.
We cruised around looking at lights for a while then headed home, both pleasantly full and slightly tired. We parked and I was once more struck by the great bounty with which we've been blessed. We have a warm place to sleep, indeed, a palace in comparison to so many who live in hovels, if they have a home at all. We have any food we want, all the clothes we need (and then some!), two vehicles, free time, entertainment... We are pampered!
I prayed for home made treats for all those who have been long hungered for such blessings... Home made treats signifying warmth, safety, but most of all the knowledge that someone cares. I pray these men and women will know God cares and I pray that my hands and heart will be ready to deliver His message of love whether it is in a chocolate chip cookie, a warm smile, my time, service and prayers, in any way my Master leads. Therein lies Joy.
© 2006 by Iona Hoeppner
| 6:42 PM
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