God Given Gifts and Talents

Throughout the coronavirus shut down I’ve watched in awe as members of our church family, friends, and family have gone to work sewing masks. What a labor of love it is to sit at a sewing machine and in some cases make hundreds or even thousands of masks.

Every week I hear our church update on their mask efforts and I think “That’s so wonderful, but I do NOT sew.” My grandma tried to teach me when I was in middle school. She’s been gone from life longer than the years I was blessed to have her here but I remember that sewing lesson rather vividly. I had asked her to teach me to sew. She had the patience of Job but let it suffice to say sewing is not a talent I possess. I remember with the lesson ending with her gently telling me it was ok if I went outside. My grandpa was working in the garden. THAT was my happy place. I still find satisfaction in the water turning brown when I wash my hands after working in the dirt.

A week ago Friday, I found myself rather annoyed with Mother Nature for yet another freeze event heading our way. I went out to my asparagus bed and picked every spear that was up to an edible length, determined not to let her have any this time. This left me with a basket full of half spears. Perfectly good and delicious…but unsaleable…spears. I had signed up to take produce this summer to the Community Action Center in Dale and thought that while less than perfect, some good may still come of them. When I went to drop them last week, my heart broke. While our county viral numbers have been low, the effects of coronavirus are still very much being felt here locally. I’ve been there many times to drop donations of various toys, clothes, etc. On this trip I noted that food pick up was expanded to daily hours and in my short time there several families came for food pickup. My paltry number of spears seemed so inadequate. The need is real. It’s local. And we can be just as useful as the masks being made.

Purdue Extension Spencer County has a program to help the local food banks track what has been donated and know what to expect (For more information or to sign up, visit https://extension.purdue.edu/SPENCER/article/37032 ). Please consider not only planting the row, but signing up so the good works can be tracked, much as the number of masks is being noted.

So as you plant your gardens (the sun will eventually shine, it always does), consider adding an extra row of beans, a couple extra squash plants, a couple tomatoes, cucumbers or some peppers. It won’t take a bit more time and it will certainly add some happiness to the boxes being sent home with those in need.

 We all have our God given gifts to use as best we can for His good works. Many thanks!