Christmas Dinner Stories
January 6, 2012 by Steve
STORIES and REFLECTIONS from Christmas Day Dinner at St. John’s Kitchen:
Highlights for me include:
- The number of volunteers who came up to me and thanked us for the
opportunity to serve and be with the team. There were a number of people who
would have spent the Christmas morning alone had it not been for the time
with us. - Generosity. People from all over displayed tremendous generosity. We were
blown away. More than ever I am convinced that people keenly desire to serve
others. We simply must find new ways for people to serve others! - The number of guests who sought me out to thank me for the fact that we
served lunch. Often meals like this are taken for granted but many really
were appreciative of what we did and the way they felt valued.
Jeremy
We were really happy to be able to serve at the St. John’s Christmas dinner. This was our second time making, decorating and serving cookies.
I gave some cookies to an older woman with a walker, and then talked with her for a while. I offered to get her lunch, and then asked if I could eat with her. She was very sweet (and very hungry). As we talked, we realized we had a common connection – two of the neighbourhood girls who babysit for us are daughters of her late nephew. Talk about a small world! Chatting with her was such a pleasant way to spend Christmas lunch.
Our kids, 8 and 4, also have a great time there, and we’re hoping this becomes a part of their normal Christmas celebration.
Thanks for allowing us to serve with you.
Bethany, Greg, Lydia and Nathan
We loved seeing you all there! Working alongside of each of you…loving others…was a great way to celebrate Christ’s birth!
There was a guy who parked himself right inside the little corner of cookie decorating and organizing. He was surrounded by a bustle of activity and had a front row seat for all this action. I asked him if he preferred to move and he indicated that he was right where he wanted to be. He said that
he enjoyed watching us do our work, both adults and kids alike. He often watched and smiled and occasionally engaged us in some type of conversation. He appeared to be totally relaxed and happy being with us.
I ate lunch with a woman who said she was “all alone” in life. She heard about today’s dinner and decided to come despite having little money for gasoline for her car. She said “this is where I want to be with all of YOU today”. The way she spoke to us, engaged us in conversation felt like we
were her family for that morning.
I noticed a number of guests would watch the children and had contented looks on their faces. Once I came over to quiet down our kids, who were being a bit loud, one man said, “Don’t worry, I’m keeping my eye on them”. Even the gruffest of guests seemed to grow tender and protective as
the children played nearby.
Teresa and Dan