An Experience to Remember

What an amazing day off...I got to sleep in with my puppy and my kitty. But most of all, I was excited that I decided to go volunteer with this amazing ministry called The Hub. What an amazing group. Every Thursday at 12:30 they serve lunch to the homeless of Shreveport downtown. You get to have conversations with these amazing people that have fallen maybe more then once off the horse and live here on the streets.

It is a COLD day. Clouds filled the skies with moist chill in the air. The amount of hands reaching out to me asking for food was one I will never forget. My heart melted in hopes to help them all. I jumped right in, passed out bananas, gave out burgers, water and in return, I get smiles so grateful. I enjoyed laughs, songs, heart ache all in one moment.

The thing that blows my mind, is how experiences like these bring us back to earth. We live in our own worlds, surrounded by things we take for granted everyday. And I HATE how I have to have an experience to see someone who has nothing to have a moment that slaps me in the face to wake up, see what I have and realize how blessed I am. I wish I really would be able to realize this everyday!

After lunch was served and conversation was had, The Hub has an amazing refuge called The Basement. It is down an ally downtown by the Robinson Film Center. It is a living room type of pad with tables, couches, tv, games and hot coffee. Not only is this a place the homeless can refuge too, but they can also, shower, and do some laundry. It is amazing. I heard about this amazing place by Caleb. I met him through my new job. He left to work at The Hub when I first started working at WWFX. Today I told him he is truly blessed to be a part of helping people everyday. He is SO excited and grateful to be part of something so amazing.

Since I can never find a way to get into a profession of helping others, like nursing, medical assistant, etc. I have decided on hopes to dedicate all the time I can to helping The Hub. I believe helping them will feed my hunger to help others as much as I can. I am excited. I believe God steered me in this direction for a reason. He must of heard my cries to Chris wanting to fulfill my life into helping others.

I am SO thrilled to get home, go through all the overload of junk we have and donate it. Give it to those in need. It makes me want to stop, realize what I am about to buy and wonder how many meals I can give or make for those out there in need. A man told me he better get ready to put his long johns on because it was going to be cold tonight. It makes me stop, think about how lucky those are that have a warm place to stay, a roof over their head, not just long johns and an ally and hope to stay warm.

I feel like there is SO much negativity sometimes for those who are homeless or in need. Yes, some of them can be scary, maybe "not all there"...but we are all the children of God, They are my brothers and sisters, just as part of the family and the deserve love and respect as any others do. What if you were left out there with no food, no money, no shelter, no way to get medicine. These people need out compassion, our love, a smile, a conversation, someone to listen to them.

I will never forget today. I hope I will get to do this more. I hope there will be more time in my life to help others in this world. No matter what it is. But I have my health, I have the strength and passion to help. And dog gone it, I'm gunna do it!!

I have added a few pictures from The Hub's Basement.