Good morning…
While we were on the women’s retreat two weeks ago, I snapped this photo of a heart shape on the sidewalk. Revisiting it now, I sense a profound epiphany.
When the dirt and the residue
of our broken lives
gradually loosen and fall away,
what remains is the heart of Christ.
As the song in yesterday’s Ash Wednesday post sang, “We must decease. You must increase.” We bend our knee and lift You high.
At Ignatius House Retreat Center, this divine dynamic will be helped along for fifteen women who are recovering from homelessness and addiction at the winter ISP women’s retreat next week. Every quarter, our written word community creates welcome bags to greet these vulnerable women as they enter their private room for an overnight stay. Designed to pamper those who have pushed through so much pain to get to this retreat experience, these welcome bags feel like a gift given from the very heart of Christ beating in our hearts.
Journals and pens. Sweet snacks. Salty snacks. Handwritten notes of encouragement. Scripture verses. Lip balm. Kleenex packs. Chocolate. Candles. Gum. Fuzzy socks. Beaded bracelets. Protein bars. Lotion. Toiletries. Angel cards. The possibilities are endless. Small tokens of God’s lovingkindness overflow from beautiful reusable bags.
Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us (Ephesians 4:7, CEV). Semester after semester, we share our gifts with fifteen brave recovering women.
Enjoy the inspirational video below and wonder, “Might the Spirit be nudging me to share some simple gift?”
…Sue…
P.S. Please text me privately (404-401-8317) to let me know the specific items you plan to deliver to our home in Vinings by next Tuesday at noon.
