the day before thanksgiving i had the opportunity to go down to honolulu and help feed the homeless. it was such a wonderful experience. i must admit though, the entire time we were there i was filled with so many emotions. at times i was in happy spirits talking and laughing with the people i was helping. yet other times my eyes were filled with tears at the sight of witnessing hundreds of peoples' trials. i left the day feeling extremely selfish. when we arrived we started unpacking donated clothes onto a table for anyone to take. after unpacking the first bag of clothes and neatly folding them onto the table, i was immediately surrounded by people reaching and grabbing to get anything they could. we had only unpacked 1 bag and yet people were so needy for clothes. and here i am, a full closet, and still wanting to go shopping... we live in such a materialistic society. and we're all guilty of complying with it.
along with many others, we helped feed over 500 people, 1 meal. 1 simple meal. only once a year. and although we make jokes about the starving college student, i don't really find it funny anymore because i have never come close to understanding the feeling of poverty. to see this small glimpse of one day, in one city. it hurts. it hurts knowing that there is an entire world filled with billions of other people just like those 500 people i served on wednesday. and here i left knowing that i had many thanksgiving plans the next day and would definitely have a full belly by the end of the day. it's a tough concept to swallow.
there are so many things that i'm thankful for, but i look past them every day. warm showers. clothes to wear. shoes to walk in. a blanket to keep me warm. a house to shield me. a bed to sleep in. friends and family to love me. a gracious god to look over me. i am so beyond blessed. my goal this year is to remember these things and give thanks daily. not just around thanksgiving time.
L
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