So…. as Carolyn pointed out last week, we here in Cincinnati got slammed last Sunday by the tail of Hurricane Ike.
So we didn’t have much damage at our house, and unlike some people (who are STILL without power a week later), we only lost power for a few hours (we got it back just in time to watch the Browns lay an egg on Sunday night…)
But we still had tons of small limbs and sticks all over our back yard, which is a pretty decent size. The youth group at our church was going to get together this past Wednesday to come help people clean up and such and asked if they could come over to help. I didn’t think there was a whole lot that they could do but I said sure.
So fast forward to Wednesday. They were supposed to be meeting at the church at 6:30, going to someone else’s house first and then going to be at my house at 7. I thought the timing on that was pretty unlikely but they said Oh no, they’d be there at 7. So I went out after dinner and started doing a bit in the yard. I didn’t want to start cleaning up stuff because I wanted there to be something for them to actually do when they got there, but I wanted to get started a little bit because I was hoping to then cut the grass before it got dark.
7:00 came and went, then 7:05 and 7:10 and 7:20. I have to say I was getting a bit ticked off. I am a pretty punctual person, and while I have tried to mellow out in my old age (understanding that just because other people have different concepts of time doesn’t make them bad people), it still irks me. Plus, I kept feeling like if I hadn’t had them scheduled to come over that I could have had this all done by now myself. I kept having mental visions of me telling them off when they got there about how I was all done and I didn’t need them etc.
When they finally got there around 7:30, my attitude almost immediately changed and my heart softened. There is just something about seeing a large group of people (especially youth) just out serving other people and helping out. There was probably at least 20 of them and they made short work of everything in the yard.
So THANK YOU to all the people that came and helped, and if you ever want to soften someone’s heart – service is a good way to do it!
3 responses to “Service”
I had no idea you were out there so angry! I’m glad you chilled out and didn’t yell at anyone. 🙂
I was certain that no one would show up at 7. With travel time, the number of people involved and having to stop at another house before ours, there was no way they could meet at the church at 6:30 and make it to our house by 7. So I really didn’t expect them until later.
In fact, I’m surprised they made it by 7:30! Driving around with that many folks can certainly slow down schedules. 🙂
Thanks to everyone for helping us! You really saved us a ton of work. And you kept a pregnant lady (um, me) from having to bend over and pick up sticks for hours!
I know – I didn’t expect them at 7 either. I figured they’d be lucky to get to their first place at 7, much less finish there and get to our house by 7.
But still, I have to be ready for them to be there at 7 just in case by some miracle they are there at 7. That’s the annoyance with non-punctual people.
It’s like if you know, and I know, and everybody knows that there’s no way you’re going to get there by 7, why do we pretend like you are?
We met at my house at 6:30..not at the church…..there’s no way I am that bad at planning time…ha ha..then went to the Blanton’s right away, who said they mostly had some walnuts to pick up, then to your house……What took so long getting there is that the Blanton’s had neighbors who were cutting down a part of a tree, and had a bunch of sticks in their yard…..we just jumped in and helped them….a good missionary experience………..We were glad to help….and sorry that we ticked you off at first……and happy to know that your heart softend…..It was a fun activity…..It is sooo good for the kids to serve……..Love….Nicole