consistent compassion

This picture is from last year, but the Jewel food store in Bolingbrook is once again donating a bunch of complete meals. My wife and I have the pleasure of passing these along to people who need a little help.

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These are hard times for a lot of us, but it is great to see people exercise kindness on a regular basis and show compassion in a bunch of different ways. We see donations from KFC, Olive Garden, Panera, Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, Famous Dave's, Chipotle, Longhorn Steak House, and I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody. There are local businesses that donate other items, such as grocery bags and produce bags. There are groups like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and elementary schools that have taken special collections. Lots of anonymous donations fund the purchase of regular stock from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

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I am especially thankful for the regular volunteers who give up their time week after week and do their work in such a way that our guest are not compromised of basic human dignity. We typically serve 65 families every week.

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There are other food pantries and other organizations that serve in similar ways, and it is cool to see what goes into these acts of compassion and to learn how people are motivated to such things. Ultimately, the motivation comes from the same source as the provision. And that source is so great that it (he) eclipses the channels. That is truly something to be thankful for.

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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

-James 1:17

of thanks and giving

The skin on my knuckles is broken from fighting -- in church. Wait; let me explain... Our family had time to waste while waiting for people to arrive. My youngest son and I rolled up newspapers to use as swords while waiting. I am an amazingly proficient warrior when fighting children who weigh less than one hundred pounds. I am less proficient when my hand slams into a heavy wooden door. Especially when said wooden door is being kicked open from the other side. I forfeited the match, and we drank hot chocolate instead.

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You might already know that Mrs. Craver and I are the directors for a food and clothing pantry. A manager from our local Jewel food store contacted us about donating precooked meals for people in need. I think this is the third year they've done this. There were twelve meals the first time, and eight the following year. This time he said they would give away TWENTY NINE meals!! I had to take the seats out of the van to fit them all, and we just made it with the meal boxes going wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. They actually gave us thirty-one boxes, not twenty-nine. Way to go, Jewel!!

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This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things. And that includes all those people and organizations like Jewel who sacrifice a little to help a friend in need. I pray a special blessings for those homes who find themselves having a hard time this season.

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Above, we see Mrs. Craver, Brother Greg and D2. Normally, we like to deliver these to peoples' houses, but this time it was just too much, so D2 did a marvelous job of calling people to come pick up their meal boxes. Greg and his kids helped with distribution.

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Oh, and the idea for swordfighting with newspaper came from Greg and the kids. Only, he managed to come through it unscathed.