Salvation Army

Several times a year, the youth in our church take turns bringing desserts and serving dinner to the people that come to the Salvation Army for food.  This month was the Beehives(the girls whom I lead), so I asked the girls that could to help me out and bring some brownies.  I had three takers, plus Delaney, so we were set.  On this night, Addyson was at a friends house, so I needed to bring Lane with me.  She drug her feet and didn't want to go, but I understood.  We had never served at the SA before, but there was a couple running the food program that showed us the ropes.  While were getting the food ready to serve, a man working there asked Lane if she'd be his potato salad server.  She looked at me with hesitation, then she looked back at him and said ok.  From that moment on, she took her job seriously and helped out in any way they asked.  I didn't do anything because the workers said this was something the youth needed to do on their own.  My heart was so full as I watched my daughter perform a selfless act for people in need.  Ryan was out of town working that day, so I sent him this text afterwards and it summed up how the evening went.

"Obviously lane was pretty mad because addyson got to go to a friends house and she had to go with me to the Salvation Army to serve dinner.  

The man running the show asked her to be the potato salad server and she ran with it.  I've never seen her act the way she did.  She interacted with the ppl she was serving and smiled the whole time.  She cleaned up after them and packed up food to go for them.  She told me on our way out that she felt really good about what she did and asked when we could come back.  There was a lady that pulled her aside and said, "young lady, I don't know if you go to church or believe in Jesus, but he's watching you right now and is so proud of you". It was hard to fight back the tears."

Afterwards I let her chose where she wanted to go for dinner, and she chose Mexican food, so Mexican it was!  

Sometimes in life we get pretty wrapped up in ourselves and what we need, and not so much the needs of others.  This was a great opportunity for Lane to step out of her box and to do something for others.  I know she felt good about it, and I told her that was the spirit she was feeling for sure.  She asked when we could do it again.  This was an experience I won't forget, and I'm sure she won't either.