Cropland Cleanup

Dear Kids,

I Corinthians 12:27. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

I grabbed my 5-gallon bucket and joined a group of workers headed out into the field. Scanning the horizon I saw a hundred or more laborers carrying buckets, driving John Deere Gators, and pulling trailers. Each had the same purpose in mind – to support our friends and neighbors after a violent tornado had taken a path of destruction through their homes. For miles remnants of the houses and barns along with the contents were strewn across the newly planted fields. When I arrived much of the large items had been picked up and thrown into piles where backhoes were pushing them into huge pits and burning them. Yet there was still a good deal of smaller pieces of sharp metal, glass, and other construction materials to be gathered from the fields.

As I trudged into the damp field, a lump rose in my throat. I looked around at the friends, neighbors, and community members who had put aside their own morning and weekend plans to come help. It was such a good feeling to be part of something bigger than myself. Later I told Dad that I felt sorry I had not been able to do more, but he reminded me that when you multiply the small amount I could do by one or two hundred other people the work was accomplished. In only three days the fields were cleared and the remains of the buildings were burned and buried.

I Corinthians tells us that we are the body of Christ and each believer in Jesus is a part of this body. We have a huge job to do as we spread the Good News of God’s salvation. Those who are dying in sin are scattered across this huge world and they all need to hear the message of hope and forgiveness. It is too big of a job for one person, but when we band together God will complete His work in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Each person in this body has a different function. Some are able to go to difficult places as foreign missionaries, others are prayer warriors, and still others encourage, give money, or provide emotional support. God has arranged all of the parts just as He wants them and everyone is needed. Even the parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable and when one part suffers, every part suffers with it. When we as Christians function together as we should without jealousy and quarreling God’s work will be accomplished!

We drove by the tornado site again later in the week. The houses and barns are gone, but the fields were clear and the ground smoothed over ready for new buildings to be built. A huge undertaking was achieved because each individual contributed what they could and together we got the job done.

Do what God has given you to do and you will be blessed to be part of a great work that is bigger than yourself!

Love,

Mama