Today in the Food Pantry I heard a neighbor gasp in excitement at something in the household section.
When I asked what she had found, she giddily held up a pair of Santa-Claus-themed salt and pepper shakers.
“I have wanted these specific salt and pepper shakers for years and years,” she said. “Whenever I’ve found them in stock at the store, I haven’t had the money to buy them.”
I had the opportunity to learn more about her as she shopped. “Up until recently I’ve been having the worst year of my life,” she told me. “I had a serious stroke last year on Christmas Eve. When I went to the hospital, they also found growths on my thyroid. We don’t have insurance, so I had to pay out of pocket for all the tests.
“I’m praising God that they were not cancerous, but all the medical bills put us behind. We ended up having to sell our house of eight years with no idea where to go next.
“We have finally moved into a trailer in the countryside and love it out there. It’s so beautiful. Some people focus on what they don’t have and how miserable they are, but all I can say is that God is good to me. When God lets you go through something hard, it’s because He wants to give you something better on the other side.”
She went on to tell me that GraceWorks has been a big part of her journey. “I had been shopping at GraceWorks for years before I ever needed help myself. I feel good now, knowing that the money I spend here helps people so much. You all are such a blessing. We already feel burdened coming in here, but when I see everyone laughing and smiling and being so welcoming, I feel that burden lifted.”