Have You Ever Cried Over a Pair of Socks? A Reflection in Ministry

Last updated on: December 5, 2013 at 11:00 am by Guest Contributor

Have You Ever Cried Over a Pair of Socks? A Reflection in Ministry 2013-12-05T11:00:00-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

by Pastor Jason Mikel
Special to R3

I’ve never cried over a pair of socks. I’ve never even seen someone cry over a pair of socks. That all changed on Monday night though when a woman named Vicky showed up in an East Nashville parking lot for burritos.

I didn’t quite know what to say when she looked up at me with big tears in the corners of her eyes. I’d just asked her if she needed a pair of socks because we were giving them away, too. That’s when she dropped her head and nodded. Soon after came the tears only to be accompanied by a slew of thank yous. I didn’t know how to react so I just handed them to her and said “You’re welcome” and hoped that was enough. What do you say to someone who has so little that a pair of white athletic socks makes that kind of impact?

I asked her a few minutes later if I could get a picture with her because I needed to keep this moment. I needed to hold on to it. I’m not sure why but I think it has to do with reminding myself that what Christians do for others matters.

So many times in the Burrito Ministry I wonder if we’re doing enough. Could we be doing more? Are we just coasting along? I mean I know that people get a good meal and we’ve built relationships and all that. As Monday nights sort of become habit though, I wonder if what we’re doing really makes a difference in people’s lives. Vicky’s tears erased my fears and instead motivated me. I realized how vital it is that we Christians show people that we do indeed care about them.

See, it’s not just the socks that got Vicky crying. I know it’s more than that. It’s that people cared enough to give her a pair of socks that struck Vicky. She didn’t tell me that but I know it. So many times in life, she’s been passed by and mocked and sneered at, but this time people told her they cared enough for her to make sure she had clean, comfortable socks, something the rest of us just take for granted. How much do you like your socks to be clean and comfortable? How much more meaningful would it be to someone who rarely gets such a thing?

I want to thank Mt. Sharon Cumberland Presbyterian Church for caring enough about our friends on the streets to collect the hundreds of pairs that they did. We’ll be handing out socks for a long time.

More than that though, I’d like Mt. Sharon’s collection of socks to challenge you and your friends, your church, or your organization. What do you take for granted everyday that you could collect for our homeless friends? How about undergarments? Maybe toilet paper? What about nail clippers? What’s your idea? Now go collect them and then hand them out. Call one of us from the Burrito Ministry if you need and we’ll help you do it.

Because I’ve never seen someone cry over a pair of socks. Have you?

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 4, 2013

Tenure Track Position: Evangelism and Mission

Next Post

December 5, 2013 “Behold, I Make All Things New”: King's Last Sunday Sermon

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Amy Steele Andre E. Johnson Book Reviews/Series Brian Foulks Call for Chapters Carol Howard Merritt Classes Conferences Contributors Crystal St.Marie Lewis Daniel White Hodge Earle Fisher Eulogy Fredrick Robinson Guest Contributions Henry McNeal Turner Institutes Interviews Joseph Boston Katherine Whitfield Kimberly Peeler-Ringer Lectures/Roundtables Natalie Bullock Brown R3 Book Series R3 Contributor Rashad Grove Readers Reflections Symposiums Teaching Traci Ellis Travis Harris Uncategorized Video

Select a Month June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz