When the absolute worst happens, you don’t feel equipped to jump through hoops. I know this first hand, for several reasons, and I imagine that most of us have been through a bad spell with the no-question help from an outside source spelled the difference between living and existing for a few months.
Last night there was a terrible fire in Burnsville, MN. No one was killed, mercifully. However, over 200 folks are now homeless – and just 3 days before Christmas.
I have a soft spot for the Salvation Army. They helped us – with no questions asked – at a time when we needed the help desperately. Never once did we feel that as an interfaith, non-Christian family we were less deserving than anyone else, it wasn’t an issue at all.
That blew away some of my preconceived notions about the SA, but my mom reminded me that when my uncle Jim Bob was wounded in WWII, he highly praised the SA for giving the guys what they REALLY needed (playing cards, good coffee) when no one else seemed to care about their killer boredom during recovery.
Today if you donate to the Salvation Army, your gift will be doubled. You can earmark the donation for the Burnsville Fire, or you can just give knowing that the Salvation Army will be generous with your donation. Not foolish, but generous. They really are among the first to show up, and the last to leave when people need help.
You have your home, food, maybe family nearby and perhaps even presents. You can spare $5, or $15. You know it. Or maybe you’d like to get some delicious coffee?
Oh – I just got an update on Alex. Mixed news, but overall a good choice, I think…