When charity knocks, open the door.

I owe my friend Connie a phone call. She left a voice mail yesterday, and I haven’t gotten back to her yet, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about her.

She and I have been friends for sixty-plus years, having grown up together at Moody Church. Among her many talents is being a fabulous cook. Since I’m not a very good one, I’ve always appreciated her ability in the kitchen and have gobbled up many a meal from her hands.

But one particular incident will always come to mind when I think of Connie. It involved food but no cooking, and it happened 16 years ago. On a frosty morning in 1994, she stepped through my kitchen door carrying two overloaded grocery bags.

 

Wiping the dishwater from my hands, I said, “What’s all this?”

“Never mind,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

I followed her outside, oblivious to the winter winds, questioning her as I went. “What’s going on?” But I stopped short when I saw eight more big brown bags lined up in her car.

“The Lord told me to do something,” she said, “and I’m just doing what I’ve been told. You’re getting your kitchen stocked.”

“Oh no,” I said. “You can’t do that!”

But she deflected my objections. “Don’t get in the way of a blessing.”

Our family had been struggling financially for several years, and for me as a stay-at-home mom of seven, panic was never far away. This day a couple of my cabinet shelves were completely empty, shelves that once couldn’t hold their bounty.

“What do you mean,” I said, “by the Lord telling you what to do?”

“In Bible study this week one verse mentioned helping those in need. I knew it was God’s message for me to help you. So don’t object. I’ve gone over your head and gotten special permission.”

My eyes filled and I threw my arms around this true friend. I hadn’t told her of my rising fear over the near-empty refrigerator or mentioned that our dinners had boiled down to a choice between pancakes and soup. Yet God had, through his Word, given Connie specific instructions. Best of all, she’d obeyed. Knowing her family was also on a strict budget, I appreciated her gifts even more.

It’s difficult to accept charity. Giving is much easier than receiving. As I stood in my replenished kitchen that afternoon feeling guilty for accepting Connie’s groceries, God reminded me that charity is just another word for love. Connie had demonstrated godly love, which humbled me and simultaneously lifted me up.

 

Later that same day my four year old (who had witnessed the food delivery) made a wise assessment of what had happened. “Your friend sure shares good, Mom.”

I had to agree. Connie had stocked our shelves, lifted my spirits, impacted a four year old, and gained another star in her heavenly crown. 

I think I’ll give her a call.

“Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” (Hebrews 13:16)

13 thoughts on “When charity knocks, open the door.

  1. Margaret, I’m so excited that you wrote about Connie today. Her godly love has humbled and lifted us up as well. Just recently, Connie learned of a need in our family. Without hesitation, she handed me a check, even though she had financial needs of her own. She is indeed a blessing and an encouragement to many! We love you Connie!

  2. Hi Margaret,
    To me she’s Mrs. Schambach, but I ditto the sentiments. Wonderful woman, and one of the nicest parents to have in a teacher’s corner. She just goes around doing good- since Dorcas is not a great name, she can still go by Connie (Acts 9:36). 🙂
    Read all your posts every morning- they remain a blessing and a challenge.
    Love,
    Terry

  3. Having a ‘Connie’ in one’s life is pretty special.I know I have at least two such special people in my life and am often overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness.Thanks for sharing this.
    Ruth

  4. Connie was raised by two very Godly parents, John and Jeanette. She saw them in action. Over the Summer, in 1964, she, as a kid herself,took her camp money and went into Antioch to buy my newborn, Doug Lyle, and newborn Peter Horton, two look-alike shirts. She babysat the boys, at camp, without anyone asking her to do so, for two months. Connie, do you remember? Thanks again. I still have the photos.

  5. Connie is a true daughter and sister of a wonderful family who has ministered to us over the years. Her obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit are exhortations to all of us.

  6. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED CONNIE’S “GET IT DONE” ATTITUDE. WHAT A GREAT EXAMPLE OF FAITH IN ACTION! YOU ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT FRIEND.

  7. Mom always said Jeanette had the biggest heart and Connie inherited it! I will always cherish her acts of love toward our family too.What a blessing she is!

  8. Connie – quietly doing the Work of God (not that she’s always quiet ;^P). She’s my hero!

  9. From the time Connie was a very little girl she helped her parents, Jeanette and John with their ministries of helps. Her Godly obedience comes from a loving heart, well trained by parents and church families. She has learned compassion through experiencing her own times of difficulty and pain. She indeed has a wonderful, kind & loving heart.

  10. I remember Connie from the Moody Church youth group days. Connie always had a smile on her face, sometime giggling, always friendly and always willing to help. I have lost touch with Connie and Dwayne and many other Moody Church “singles”, my loss.

  11. I had the pleasure of visiting with Connie just a month ago at my Aunt Olga Shufeldt’s memorial service. But as we are reading your narrative, we can just hear Connie’s voice and her assured mannerism is telling you. “I’ve gone over your head and gotten special permission.” The day you wrote this, Jo-Nell and I were discussing Eph. 1:11-14 and how it looks to be “those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” We thought Paul described how this looks a chapter later–Eph 2:10 (TNIV) For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Does “which” refer to “handiwork” or “good works”? This might suggest that the eight bags of groceries were sort of spontaneous on Connie’s part but as “a good work which God prepared in advance for Connie to do”, it was not a last-minute-emergency thought on God’s part. More likely it was a joyful notation on one of the pages in the “Margaret Chapter” of God’s plan book as noted in Ps 139:16. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” It was probably also in the “Connie Chapter” along with the notation about “granting special permission” and to be delivered with a deep laugh and smothering hug. Your narrative certainly explains what “to the praise of his glory” looks like even 17 years later. I wonder what specific good works are on today’s pages in each of our chapters–“to the praise of his glory.” Can’t wait to find out and hope I don’t miss it or mess it up.
    Regards,
    Fellows

  12. Connie has always reflected the heart of Christ with her never-ending generosity of word and deed. Her spirit of humor is an added plus. What a display of true leadership. May The Lord continue to bless her ministry.