What is it like to work at a Love Lift table? One might think that the
one's who receive the benefit and blessing of the Love Lift bags are the final
recipients.
This is true, of course, but there is more, much more. As I stood back and watched I
saw families continuing or beginning traditions of giving, teaching their children what
Jesus meant when He said it is more blessed to give then receive. One family in particular
comes to mind. A father, mother and three children. They could only fill one bag, because
dad was out of work. A couple of weeks later the family happily carried the bag to the
table. They were delighted! God provided the extra money to the items to put in the bag.
God blessed them not only with provision but united them as a family and taught them what
it was to trust Him.
I also witnessed one couple who returned two Love Lift bags, almost
dancing up to the table. They also gave us the extra items they had. They had so much fun
filling the bags that they decided to take two more bags, not even asking for the extra
items back to add to their new bags! They were so filled with joy that their feet barely
touched the ground as they left the courtyard.
Then there was the older gentleman who filled a teen boy's bag. He recalled
a Christmas long ago when he, as a teen boy, was in the hold of a ship destined for Japan
and the war. Some Christian people had sent Christmas packets to be given out to all the
men, similar to the Love Lift bags. He never forgot that Christmas and saw the Love
Lift
as a way to return the kindness.
I stood back and watched the people coming to the table; families,
couples, single people, teenagers and children. They came to reach out to others not
knowing the blessing they themselves were about to receive. I stepped back to see my
coworkers reaching out to others, not just concerning Love Lift, but each with their own
unique gifts ministering to others to Jesus name.