We have within us the desire to serve. Sometimes we don’t act on that desire because our schedules are so full of other things that we don’t leave room for chance encounters. Sometimes we don’t act because we don’t know what we can do.
Here are “16 ways to serve in a snowstorm.”
Back in April 2013, I was having a conversation on Facebook with Doug Combs, Gina Van Scoy Wernig and Katherine Burch Partida about “Blessing Bags” – an easy and helpful way to be prepared to serve. The following is an article Bethel published in the May 2013 edition of the Bell Tower:
This unique idea was found on Facebook. How many times have you encountered a homeless person and felt the urge that you just wanted to help but not give cash? Well, you could give them a Blessing Bag. Take a gallon-sized Ziploc bag with items such as socks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, cereal bars, nuts, mints, a comb, deodorant, shampoo, soap, a wash- cloth, Purell, juice box or water bottle, applesauce, etc., along with a New Testament. It’s amazing how much you can stuff in one of those bags. Keep one in your car for an unexpected random moment of kind- ness.
A lady who posted her account gave a bag to a gentleman that had a washcloth in it. He thought it was a pair of socks, which he desperately needed. She told him she would be sure to add those to her bags in the future. She also made separate bags for men and women, giving the ladies lotions, pink toothbrushes, etc. Travel-sized items found locally and from the dollar stores would be good.
For more on blessing bags, search
“blessing bags” for sites like this.
Epicurious Lutheran 