Bearing with Grief

Last updated on: August 15, 2016 at 7:03 am by Guest Contributor

Bearing with Grief 2016-08-15T07:03:21-05:00 Guest Contributor

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Fullview Baptist Church showed up with their first Thursday of the month sack lunches. Every guest got a lunch.

Joseph showed up with two bags of the most delicious egg rolls in the city of Memphis as he does most every Thursday. Guests and volunteers alike enjoyed this treat.
Students from the Southern College of Optometry came every day this week and served with steady enthusiasm.
Toward the end of the morning a guest came in who has been difficult at times. He can be a bit prickly. He handed me a box. “Here. This is for Manna House and for that baby you and Kathleen are caring for.”
Inside the box was a small stuffed bear and some magazines.
“The bear is for the baby. The magazines are for anyone who wants them. I want to help like you help me.”
As I left Manna House a little while later and locked the front gate I saw a man walking with two orthopedic boots on his feet. He had a cane and was also carrying a box.
I asked him where he was going.
“South Memphis.”
“That’s a long way to walk. Can you catch a bus?”
“Will you take me to a bus stop?”
“Sure. Get in my car.”
He directed me to a bus stop about a half mile away. Just as he was going to get out of the car he said, “You remember me?”
“You look familiar.”
He told me his name.
“I remember you now.”
“I’m not homeless anymore, well not really, since I’m staying with a friend. But I’m off the streets. You know that Manna House is a life saver.”

The heat and the humidity and the grief still hung in the air. But something else was present too. The gifts hospitality brings, from guests, from students and churches, from those regular volunteers who come so faithfully. The grief was not gone. But it was bearable.

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