Dear Mariel,
 
This was a heartwarming story. It seems to be getting rare for Christians or churches to provide help
 
as they use to..for those in need of a little. The attitude of this woman was a help as well as her
 
desire to help in other ways. When two or more Christians meet, good things can happen even out
 
of an accident.
 
I have been disturbed for years as I have seen churches only "help" people when it was convenient for them,
 
such as clothes pantry open on Monday from 12 noon until 2PM, but who in the world can ride a bus
 
across town, and maybe transfer once or twice to get to that? It's an all day affair. Quite a lot of people
 
in need, even tho  it may be temporarily , may not be physically able to drive or else their car may be
 
being repaired from an accident or such.
 
Then, there is the food pantry (if there is one) open from 3pm until 6pm on Thursdays only and  o nce
 
again, it's not easy to cart groceries across town on a bus, especially for the elderly who may need them
 
the most and be unable to carry them in the first place.
 
When people give their winter clothes in the summer and their summer clothes in the winter, isn't this
 
giving a spotted calf? Who can wear a wool dress or suit in the summer?
 
I know in most churches in this area, there is no help delivering groceries at all and it's all done at
 
the convenience of the church.
 
A lot different from the days when Stephen took care of the widows, orphans,etc.
 
It has seemed like a sort of pretense of helping . There is at least one church, I think it is
 
a First Christian or Methodist church who will deliver to elderly and handicapped ...fresh food once
 
every 3 months or so. Even that is better than nothing.
 
A few years ago, a man came to a food pantry in a very rich church and asked for some food and
 
the lady refused , saying it was too near closing time and he whipped out a gun and said to her,
 
"Lady, you'd better give me a can of peas."  When she saw the gun, she was somehow able to
 
hand him the 1 can of peas. He left and of course the police was called and one would have thought he
 
was the number one criminal of the world on the search for him.  What he did was terrible and no doubt
 
the lady was very frightened. However, a starving person will do a lot of things they wouldn't ordinarily
 
do for food. It's a shame the work of the Lord is not being done as it once was. I know some individuals
 
do a lot on their own to help others and that is a real blessing from God to those in need.
 
Didn't intend to get into all of this,
 
I do believe that in the very near future, it's going to be easy to spot a believer in Christ, because
 
they will be out doing the will of the father at their own inconvenience when necessary and those
 
pastors who have a pastor's heart will be doing so too. I believe needs will be of varied kinds and
 
will be great. The church is able for the task however and there are plenty who will step up
 
to the plate.