This is my grandaughter Olivia. In this picture she is pouring drinks, not for herself, but for those that we came to serve. For a few years now Olivia has been expressing an interest in wanting to help others in need. I could see that this was something that God was putting on her heart so I began to pray for an opportunity. Unfortunately it's not that easy to find hands-on volunteer opportunities that children can take part in due to liability issues. I think that's sad because it teaches them how to take part in volunteer efforts as adults. I believe that a lot more adults would get involved in volunteer work if they had some previous exposure, and when children grow up doing it then it is more likely to become part of their lifestyle.
In any case, God opened up an opportunity where we could volunteer as a family to serve women that have left a life of abuse. SafeHaven of Tarrant county offers services for battered women and their children that include emergency shelters, a transitional living program, counseling, and others. It is a wonderful organization that helps these families to make the adjustments necessary to successfully leave their abusive situations and not walk back into them. Once a week families in the transitional living program meet for counseling and a meal is served before their sessions begin. So every 3 weeks my daughter, grandaughters, and I get to prepare the meal and serve it to these families. These people are so nice and a joy to cook for. One little boy is especially fun, he is about 5 or 6 I think and he can EAT! He always comes back for seconds and thirds at least and each time he comes back to the table with a HUGE smile on his face.
Olivia is totally loving this. It is so clear that she is doing what God has designed her to do. The other two are also loving this even though they aren't doing any serving of food, they are spreading love to all the other little kids as they play with them. It's so sweet too because they understand our purpose there and they are quite patient about waiting until we serve others before fixing them a plate. I love what this is teaching them.
We cannot take pictures of anyone in the program but here's my little ones enjoying their meal.
After we packed everthing up to go home we took a few pictures of the girls being who God created them to be, distinctly individual and unique. Of course I have to add ... Aren't they just adorable!? :D
17 comments:
The girls are such sweeties :) Thank God that they can be involve in God's work and spread His love to others. It is encouraging to read of the good work all of you are doing. May God bless you and them as you serve Him together. Take care and may God grant you a very blessed week!
They are SO cute!
Volunteer work is SO important. So many children take the things they have for granted. It is wonderful that you and your daughter are teaching them that there are others out there that do not have as much as we do. Your daughter is leading her children in a loving way. her mom must have been one terrific woman!
I also noticed that you wrote you "GET" to prepare and serve the meal. Not just that you do it, they let you do it or you have to do it....but you GET to. That is a sure sign of your loving heart.
What more can you say--their faces say it all! That is the kind of radiance that only comes from serving in what you were called to do.
That's what it looks like folks! Don't you want to look like that!? I do!!
Glad you are well and can take the little ones out.
What a blessing! How wonderful that you found this opportunity. I need to do that. I was looking into helping the homeless with my duaghter, but our pediatrician advised against it because of the high rate of TB, which is airborne. But a shelter for battered woman would be another venue without the TB risk. Thanks for the great idea.
What a sweet heart Olivia has! It must be humbling to see such a servant in that little girl. If only we were all that unselfish! It looks like you guys had a good time!
Way to go girls! Way to love on the people around you!!
Edie,
THAT is just thee most WONDERFUL THING! I wish I could go with you and help! Your Grand daughters have a wonderful, GODLY Grandmother who just so happens to be UNIQUELY EDIE as well!
The pictures are hysterical... but ahem.... WHERE IS EDIE??????????
Yes, I KNOW Edie is taking thee pictures, but WHY? I am quite confidant that Olivia could manage taking your photograph! ;) heehee
You just give Olivia, Ashleigh, and Emily a GOOO GIRLS!~ from me okay? This is so inspiring and uPlifting! What wonderful lessons they are learning. Thanks for sharing this! MADE MY DAY!
Love lea
Edie,
I came by to see your purple...and yes, it shows beautifully!! And in your granddaughters, as well. What a beautiful bunch you are...may the Lord truly bless your efforts as you serve those who are hurting.
Blessings to you my sweet sister.
Edie,
These girls ARE adorable! I love what you are teaching them--grabbing a hold of those desires God planted and then showing them how they, young as they are, have purpose and meaning from the Lord! This is so terrific! "Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers..."
I love it!
Such beautiful girls! They're blessed to have a grandma who encourages them in the things of the Lord. :)
What cuties!!!
My daughter volunteers at Life Choices Center,it's a crisis pregnancy center,where we live.
Sydney,who is 15 has done this for the last two summers. She loves setting up tha baby shop for the moms,who can come in once a month to buy things with the points they earn through the program at the center.
Doesn't it just bless your heart when you see your grandchildren serving the Lord!
Oh, Edie! They are so adorbale! How wonderful that 3 generations of y'all get to serve together! This is something they will never forget.
Love ya,
Susan
Coming from the side of the fence that usually gets the volunteers for a program...it's always exciting and encouraging to see kids who want to take part, and aren't necessarily being "dragged" in.
Looks like they're having a great time!
Thank you for sharing this with us! You are training up these beautiful girls and that is worth more that gold in God's eyes!
Love the pictures!
Your grandchilden are beautiful. You have a purple heart, just like Lea.
This post was inspirational. God bless you for being a light for your family.
Love, Debra
I am catching up with you today! What a wonderful opportunity for your grand daughter's. They are beautiful inside and out just like you!
Edie, what a wonderful blessing for your family to serve together!
My daughter loved to do this, too, even from a young age. I remember that at the age of about 6 or 7, she was helping us serve dinner at a homeless shelter. She didn't want to be back behind the counter, either! She wanted to be out front so she could interact with everyone, so she walked from table to table with the bread basket.
Another time, she brought big sugar cookies and different icings/sprinkles; she set up a table and helped the children "make" their own dessert!
Praise God for the sweetness of purity of children who want to serve Him!
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