I remember reading the book,
Same Kind of Different As Me and thinking "My gosh. Miss Debbie is a saint. How in the world could I ever make a difference like that?" While incredibly inspiring, I remember feeling overwhelmed and discouraged because I didn't think there was anything I could do to compare to what she did with Denver. I read that book probably five years ago, if not longer...and it has stuck with me since.
John Wesley said:
"Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can."
It wasn't until this past year that I realized....the difference I make doesn't have to be on a "Miss Debbie scale." It can be on a "Kim Mayes scale"...John Wesley style...."all the good you I can....by all the means you I can....in all the places you I can....to all the people you I can." He didn't say "all the good.....by all the means....in all the places.....to all the people." Those two words "you can" are important. I can do what I can do....not what Miss Debbie can. What I can.
When we went to Colorado in December, we helped my brother and sister-in-law package "Blessing Bags" for the homeless in Arvada. We went to Costco and stocked up on several different snacks, water, hand warmers, and ziplock bags. Then, assembly line style, we filled the bags so Pj, Amy and Auggy could keep them on hand, in their cars. And most recently, my good friend, JB, set out to do the same thing, instead filling his bags with miscellaneous hygiene supplies. Simple. There was no right or wrong. There was no way to mess up.
In the book, Denver Moore said "Nobody can help everybody. But everybody can help somebody." So, today, my family set out to help somebody! We went to the Dollar Store and stocked up on snacks, water and ziplock bags. I copied my friend JB's sweet words and printed out a quick tag to go inside. For less than $50 and in under an hour, we're ready to help 12 somebodies...."as long as ever we can."
