The Least of These

Tonight our Bible Study class cooked and served dinner to about 40 PACEM guests. We prepared a hot meal and put out hot coffee and lots of yummy desserts. All of the kids helped serve, even the little ones - from J who organized the silverware to W who served the rolls to Z who scooped the corn. When they were finished "feeding the mans" they fed themselves. Afterwards some of us stayed to share activities with the guests.

This is the 3rd night that our family has joined the men for the evening activities since our church began hosting a week ago Saturday. The girls and their brother have become increasingly more comfortable with the men. The kids love to help serve the men dinner, and have really enjoyed playing cards and watching movies with them too. They have such a good time that we typically have difficulty convincing them all that it's time to head home.

This evening after dinner, Will scooted a chair from across the room into the middle of a group of men. He positioned his chair, climbed into it, and settled in to watch a movie with the men. I watched, wary that he might be bothering them, but was relieved to see them smile at his presence and innocence.

Katherine, Caroline & Morgan joined another church member and several PACEM guests tonight for several extended games of UNO. By the time the last game was over, the players were laughing and chatting as though they'd known each other for years.

I'm glad that our church family is able and willing to provide these necessary services to these men in need, and that we have been given this opportunity to make a small difference in their lives. I'm proud of my children, that they have been able to see past the things that set these men apart from us, and that they have been able to treat the men as family for the short time they are in our lives this year.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40 (NIV)