The gift-- Chandy

Yesterday was a great day. We had a baby shower for one of our girls at Rock Island. I have mentioned her before. She is 16 and due next month. All last week I was a little bit worried about the shower. I told a few people about it that volunteer here at Cross & Crown and also gave her invitations to hand out to family and friends, but I was worried no one would show up and her feelings would be hurt. On Thursday night at RI bible study, I mentioned to all the girls that they should try and come to support their friend. As we set out food and decorated I was a little worried, but as 4 o'clock rolled around I was overwhelmed.

You see, Mia attends Sunday night worship every week by herself. Even at 8 months pregnant she walks the 5 blocks every Sunday evening and sits on the back row. She doesn't talk to many people and kind of keeps to herself, but she is always here. I don't think Mia thought anyone even knew her, but she soon found out.. they sure do love her. A few hispanic women from the neighborhood(who don't even speak the same language as Mia) came and brought precious little gifts. There were a few staff members and family friends that came and then there were the Rock Island girls. Five teenage girls came to love on and support their friend. It was sweet.

BUT the sweetest story is about a little girl I'll call "Kelly". Kelly is in our Rock Island youth program. She is a frail, abused 6th grader who is very soft-spoken and shy. We've known her on and off for many years as she has been shuffled around by DHS to different homes. She currently lives with her biological parents. Their family lives in a rundown house that rarely has functioning electricity and their week revolves around what churches in the area are serving meals. Kelly has one pair of pants and two shirts that she rotates for her school uniform. She wears the same "school uniform" on Saturdays and Sundays. I didn't see Kelly come into the shower, but I glanced over at some point during the shower to see her sitting quietly in a corner with a plate full of food. As Mia opened her gifts she held up a small pink bag without a tag. "Whose is this?" It was dead silent and no one said a word, she repeated again, "Whose is this?" And then a small voice comes from the corner..."That's mine". It was Kelly. She smiled proudly as Mia opened a little pink baby blanket.

As I looked at Kelly I was reminded of the parable of the widow's offering. Kelly has nothing, she is hungry and cold, but she probably took everything she had to buy a baby blanket for her friend. That's friendship and that's love. We could all learn a lesson from Kelly's precious gift.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."
-Mark 12:41-44