Pride in giving back.

Today, I am spotlighting a “guest” writer—one of our faithful volunteers, Ann Edmonds. Enjoy!

Cheri, On Friday, July 8, I witnessed several wide and beautiful smiles of satisfaction and pleasure. She is angular, south of Mexico. Each year, she comes. Each year she has another little one. This year too, she is pregnant. She and her children are quiet. They play. She shops carefully.

On Friday, she followed me outside to the shed. She asked if we could use food. Yes, I said, if it's not produce. She had rice, beans, canned foods. They were leaving for California and had no room to take the food.

 I must have looked stricken at her departure because she smiled and said she'd be back  next year, and with the new little one too.

I helped her carry the so heavy bags. Pregnant, compact, tough and strong, she grinned at me out in the parking lot. She took two to one of mine!

She filled out a receipt. She wrote proudly and confidently, it seemed to me. She seemed pleased to be giving Hope House something useful for other people.

I thought you might like that story, Cheri. It epitomizes for me the generosity and joy of the so called neediest among us. I smile as I remember her face.

Thank you, Ann, for sharing this moment of grace with us!