Tiny drops add up to big blessings
by Becky Lumpkin
St. Martin’s Treasurer Alice McCrory helps out at the December St. Luke’s Feeding Ministry.
In a year of so many challenges and uncertainties, I'm trying hard to hold the small and unplanned joys close. When the world shut down earlier this year, like many of you, our family's carefully planned out activities came to an abrupt halt. Our three-year-old Lilly was finally at the perfect age to start exploring and enjoying so many things. We were planning lots of zoo trips to see the "aminals," to finally make it to Edventure, to try out all the parks in our area, and to attend all the Columbia Children's Theater and Columbia Marionette Theater shows that we possibly could. We were planning to start swimming lessons in the summer and dance lessons in the fall. I was ready to dive in to all of the year's holiday celebrations and weekend trips With family. I wanted to get more involved in the community and my church.
As you know, most of these things weren't possible. At least in the ways I had imagined.
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that my family and friends have remained healthy and safe. My heart breaks for those who have dealt with enormous loss and grief this year.
One unexpected thing that has warmed my heart and shifted my focus is getting involved with a ministry at our church. St. Luke's is an outreach ministry providing meals for those who need it one Saturday every other month. Several committee members Are high risk and were not able to serve in the same capacity this year due to COVID. I felt that this was a small thing I could do, so when I heard about the packing event in August, I decided on a whim to help after finding out that extra hands were needed the next day. When I arrived on that hot Saturday in August, I was immediately overwhelmed with emotion because it was the first time in months that I had been on our church campus or inside its doors.
I was amazed at the packing efficiency and how the portions were organized down to a science. There was a "loaves and fishes" moment when we ran out of one casserole and a volunteer appeared with another one just in the nick of time.
During the time of COVID, we're not all able to go to the location and hand out the meals. Instead we all wear a mask, socially distance, and carefully package the meals in our fellowship hall. Then we pack load the meals in a car and take them to the location where they are distributed.
I especially enjoyed the month I volunteered to cook. It felt so good to cook for a purpose. This weekend, we packed a Christmas meal and volunteers distributed stockings and gifts along with the hot meal.
Sometimes it's easy to feel like the little time, energy, or money we have to give is a small drop in the bucket. And maybe it is. But what a wonderful thing to know that all those drops add up until the bucket overflows with blessings and service to someone who needs it. As we observe this holiday season and go head into a new year, make sure your drops matter and be assured that together we can and are doing beautiful things at St. Martin's.
Becky Lumpkin and her husband Bryan are the parents of Lilly. Bryan, who grew up at St. Martin’s, will soon join the vestry as a new member. Becky wrote about this experience in her journal and decided she would like to share it with St. Martin’s.
