Maureen’s Story
“A member of our small group mentioned that the homeless ministry at Forsyth Park was in need of toiletry items. I wanted a way to involve my four stepchildren in ministry and thought this was a great opportunity.
“At work we have a basket of hand sanitizers and chapsticks that sit at my desk and we give away to patients every day. I asked my boss if she were willing to donate 50 hand sanitizers and 50 chapsticks for the homeless ministry, and she agreed.
“I went to the store and bought 50 sandwich baggies and some index cards. I went home to the children and explained that we were all going to take out our Bibles and find 50 verses to write on the index cards and place in the sandwich baggies, along with the hand sanitizer and chapsticks.
“The next day the kids and I drove up to Forsyth Park to deliver the goods. Many people thanked the kids for the baggies and said it was a great idea! When we left the park I asked the kids if they had comments about the day. They all shouted, ‘I loved it and want to do it again!’
“My two hopes and prayers for this were that through this small act of compassion the right Bible verse would fall into the right hands at the right time and that it would be a stepping stone to having my stepchildren fall in love with Jesus, long before I did at the age of 39.
“I may never know the eternal impact it made on the folks at Forsyth Park, but I can tell you of the immediate impact it has had on our family. We recently gained custody of my husband’s four children. The children have always lived with their mother in a different state and have now been placed in our care away from everything familiar.
“A few days after we showed compassion at Forsyth Park, I was greeted with a note on the refrigerator from my oldest stepchild that said, ‘Miss Maureen, I want to ask you, “Don't you think that more than just homeless people need compassion? People like my mom? I know the things you say are true about her but can't you just show her some compassion too?"
“Wow! Wow that I was really saying unkind things about his mom even though I thought I tried really hard not to. This note opened a door for the first intimate conversation with my oldest stepson. I thanked him for being bold and confronting me with love, and I asked for his forgiveness.
“I have changed the eyes through which I look at his mom and the negative energy in my house has decreased significantly. It’s easy to choose compassion for the ones we love and even for strangers, but what about the ones we are in conflict with or harbor negative feelings toward? Are they not God's people too?
"I had goals for this random act of compassion to change others, and I pray that it did, but God had bigger plans-- to change me! That's exactly what happens when you choose compassion: YOU will be changed!
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