Blessed Are The Merciful
It was a cold, windy winter in West Texas, the year that Salvation Army Captains Russ and Linda Keeney were approached by a friend and told about a family in their community in desperate need of help. Regardless of the busy holiday season at The Salvation Army, after hearing about the circumstances of the family the Keeneys decided they would visit them personally to see how they could be of assistance.
The Keeneys soon discovered the family had no food and no toys for the children. There were three children, ranging from three to seven years old. They were cold and despondent when the Keeneys arrived. "The family was hopeless, and we saw emptiness in every sense of the word," said Captain Keeney. "I remember it like it was yesterday."
"When we pulled up to the home, it looked like it was condemned. It was barren and deserted in appearance, with no signs of life coming through |
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the freezing windows. When we went inside, there were no doors on the kitchen cabinets, so we saw the emptiness of the shelves, and that the family had literally nothing to eat. The only heat source was a hibachi grill situated in the living room for warmth, with the smoke from it being ventilated through a nearby window," Captain Russ Keeney explained.
"It was very humbling to see what this family was doing to survive. My heart melted as I looked into the faces of these children who had absolutely nothing to eat and no toys to play with," Captain Keeney continued.
The Keeneys went to work immediately, drawing on the resources provided through Salvation Army programs made possible by generous donors in the community. They were able to provide for their needs almost immediately, filling the cupboards with groceries and bringing gifts and toys to the children to help lift their spirits and bring a joyful distraction to their difficult circumstances.
When the Keeneys arrived with the much needed food items and toys, Captain Russ recalled, "there were tears of joy and the children kept hugging us and holding on to our legs. They were literally screaming with joy, they were so happy and excited. As we left the house, each child was on the front porch smiling as big as day, waving goodbye standing next to their brand new bikes."
When we asked Captain Keeney what went through his mind when they were helping this family, he said, "I have heard a lot of people say that you can't help everyone you come across, and that might be true. But, I'm reminded of a story I once heard called the Starfish Story. A boy was walking on the beach and there were thousands of starfish stranded on the shore. He was mercifully picking up one at a time and throwing them back into the ocean. Someone remarked that there were too many to help, but the boy's response was very simple. To those who get thrown back to sea, it makes a difference. It is the same with The Salvation Army, meeting as many needs as possible, one person or one family at a time. I know we made a difference in the lives of that family that day," he concluded.
Every year, The Salvation Army is introduced to countless families just like this. Because of your support, we are making a difference in the lives of people in need during the holiday season and year round. Thank you.
For more information about The Salvation Army in your community, visit us at www.salvationarmytexas.org, or contact your local Salvation Army for a tour and more information.
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