During Maunday Thursday services, it is not uncommon for a pastor to wash the feet of some of the congregation. This is a ritual that has been practiced since Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.
Still, if you are one of the people asked to remove your shoes and have the pastor wash your feet, you never feel you are deserving. "My feet?" you might think, "Couldn't you just wash my hands and we'll call them my feet?"
No, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples...the feet that had walked in dirt over many miles.
In the same humble attitude, I have to doff my cap to the Mandan United Methodist Church who have adopted Steve and Amy Scheitlin and their family as their own this week. Their daughter Janelle was hurt in a car accident in the early morning hours of April 5. She fell asleep when driving from Glendive to her home on the farm near Lindsay, Montana. The car went down an embankment and rolled, throwing Janelle.
Two truckers (were they angels?) stopped and covered her with blankets and called the ambulance at 1 a.m. Her dad -- who was searching for her -- came upon the accident scene about the time the ambulance arrived.
She was taken to Glendive and then airlifted to a hospital in Bismarck at 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Since then, she has been in ICU, undergone several surgeries and has remained in a coma. Her parents kept a 24-hour vigil at the hospital for several days along with other other family members.
Well, the first week has passed, and while Janelle is still in a coma, the doctors are more hopeful than they've been all week that she will awake and begin her recovery.
But during this time of stress, worry, tears and gut wrenching nightmares for her family, several members of the Mandan United Methodist Church have been delivering meals to the hospital -- all week -- lunch and dinner. The meals have ranged from scalloped potatoes and ham to pulled pork and beer-can chicken.
Most of the family is Catholic so yesterday the lunch was tuna burgers and broccoli soup. The dinner was cheese buttons and knoefla soup. Yesterday's meals were made by family members...however, some of the family members are also part of the UMC family.
The Scheitlins cannot believe the love that has been showered over them by this church family. They stand in awe, just as someone who has had their feet washed. And they are forever grateful for the compassion shown and the prayers spoken on their behalf.
I might add that this isn't the only outpouring of love. The Scheitlins are in the middle of calving but one of the neighbors took the remaining cows to his farm. And another neighbor is feeding the Scheitlin cattle that have already calved. Another has said that he will finish planting if Steve is still in Bismarck when the ground is ready for the plow.
The Christian love shown this family has deeply touched me...and I thought you would like to know as well. Amen!
Recipe - Aunt May's Famous Wheatcakes
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Now Playing - Forever Young by Alphaville RECIPE: MAY PARKER'S FAMOUS
WHEATCAKES Originally made by my pal Pete's Aunt May, these wheatcakes are
a great...
10 years ago
2 comments:
Just as Jesus washed the disciples feet to show servanthhood and humility, I, too, am constantly amazed by the ability of people, both family and stranger to step up in times of need. We can all put ourselves in Janelle's family' shoes and feel their fear of the unknown. The food is the least we can do. You know that we Methodists love and nurture through food.
I would like to make a point of something,somtimes over-looked.Can you remember Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha? I think they were sisters of Lazarus.Mary listened to Jesus,every word. Martha,on the other hand,felt she had to work the entire time preparing the meal.Mary may have witnessed the feeding of the 5,000 and Martha did not.My point is the miracle of people having food provided by Jesus is still alive and well.The Gifts of the Spirit happen and often go un-noticed as miracles.We are all parts of One body and thankful for those who carry on the workings of Jesus."Thank God in all things"!We may not see him but he is among us.
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