GIFTS

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

We spent a good portion of our day at Riverside Christian School preparing an area that our Breathitt County Long-Term Recovery Team will use as a case management site to help families impacted by the recent flooding. 

If you know me, you know that I am not much into manual labor. I am not a blue-collar worker; I do not like to get my hands muddy, and I am not the best with a shovel or any tool, for that matter. But that does not mean there is no work for me to do. 

Today, I found myself moving boxes, wiping down surfaces, pushing mud, and clearing out space — small tasks, but ones that matter.

Ultimately, it is not about who can use the tools the best. It is about showing up, doing what you can, and making sure the work gets done.

In 1 Peter 4:10, we are reminded: “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” 

That is the beauty of community. Not everyone has to do the same job, but everyone has something to offer. 

Some can build, some can clean, some can organize, and some can listen to families as they process their losses. It all matters, and it all moves us forward.

We will be back at it again tomorrow. There is more work to do, more hands needed, and more hearts to encourage.

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