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| NOT EVERYONE'S RUNNETH OVER |
My parents were Salvation Army
officers. All six kids in the family
grew up “volunteering” in various ways throughout the Army's annual Christmas
effort. My father, Frank Raymond Sr.,
died in 1970 at the age of 47, but until then he had a talent for public
relations and marketing the compassion of The Salvation Army. In the mid-nineteen-fifties, he created a PR
pitch during Christmas time with the picture of a Salvation Army shield on a coffee
mug. The pitch simply said, “Not everyone’s
runneth over!” It pricked the conscience of the community toward the poorest of the poor. Today the Army’s mug says
“Doing the Most Good.” I like my
father’s creativity, because it kept the focus on those others who needed “the
most good.”
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| Praying over Thanksgiving dinner in a poor family's home |
“I just finished taking
applications this morning. My last application was a young mother with 5
children.....some of her request for "gifts" for her young children
were: a blanket for his bed, twin sheets for a few others, Christmas dresses....a
few toys...but mostly necessities. I
thought my heart would break and it was all I could do not to cry in front of
her (I do tend to get emotional) .... It sure puts things in perspective,
especially when some people are a bit more extravagant
in their requests.
I did break down after she
left...leaving my poor husband and other volunteers dismayed as to why I was
falling apart.....bless them. Tonight
when I snuggle under my warm blanket I know I will be thinking of those dear
children. And we are putting some of those necessities together now and I will
deliver them.”
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| Making the last drop count |
Thousands of Salvation Army personnel
this Christmas season have a compassionate appreciation that not
everyone’s cup runneth over and so it is their heart after the likeness of
God’s own heart that moves them to do the most good and to do it in Jesus’
name. Unless we too are moved with compassion, then what?
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