By Brandon Young
The Bible tells us in Acts 20:35, it is more blessed to give than to receive. This past Saturday, July 29, we hosted the 9th annual Back 2 School Bash at Harmony, and once again, I was blessed beyond measure. As in all the years past, I stood in amazement and in tears at what I saw and heard from the children, parents, and grandparents! The smiles, the laughter, the joy, the excitement, and the words of appreciation were abundant, and I basked in the presence of the Lord the entire day!
I am grateful, like so many others, to play a small part in God’s great plan to help others. It feels amazing to be arms and feet of the Lord. I would also like to take this time to thank every church, business, organization, and volunteer that made the day possible! Without people working together in unity, an event like this would not be possible. Over 3,500 individuals were in attendance, and we could provide 1,500 students with what they needed for school all because of those who gave!
I wanted to share a life changing incident that happened to me last Saturday during the Bash. We had a Beauty and the Beast skit in the church that the families watched before exiting the building to receive their new backpacks. I happened to be the beast during the skit. I had my photo made with hundreds of sweet children, but one child made my day. As she and her dad approached me, I thought they wanted a picture so I prepared myself by reaching down to put the beast mask back over my head. Her dad immediately told me they were not there to get a picture. He began to explain how the little girl wanted to bring me something. He said after she met me from years past during the Back 2 School Bash that she had decided to bring me something to show me her love and appreciation for what we do to help her and her family each year. Honestly, I was speechless.
The child was holding a white plastic bag, and she extended her arm out towards me. The look on her small face was priceless. I could tell she wanted me to open the bag immediately. Before I looked in the bag, her dad spoke up and said, “She has a small vegetable garden that she worked and tended to this summer, and before leaving the house, she picked you some vegetables.” She grew these vegetables, picked them, hauled them to Hampton High School to catch a shuttle to the bash, and held them while in line to come inside the church to see the skit. She did all this because she wanted to give me something to show her gratitude. I opened the bag to see beautiful tomatoes, cucumbers, and banana peppers, and she grabbed me around the waist to hug me, and my tears began to flow. This gesture may seem small, but to me, I felt as if someone had given me a million dollars. She cared about what we had done year after year, and she was thankful. She had received her new backpacks from the bash in years past, but today she came to give back! Her gratitude spoke volumes to me, and God used this child to show me why we continue to work so diligently each year to ensure the Back 2 School Bash happens!
I think the look on my face, and the tears that rolled down my face, meant more to this child than the backpack filled with the school supplies she received and all the fun she had while at the Bash. She was blessed by giving, and was so proud that God had used her to show me why we continue doing this event! Her only motive was love and appreciation. Please never underestimate the power of giving; even the small things can make the greatest difference.
I will never be the same person because of this child’s little bag of vegetables. If you have been thinking about giving someone something or doing something special for someone, step out and see it through! You will be blessed, and the person receiving this love and appreciation will be touched forever by your generosity! Let’s give back to each other, to our community, to our church, to our relatives, and yes, even to strangers! I would love to see a world filled with folks just like this little girl! I could not help but to think about the lad in the scriptures that gave up his lunch so that Jesus to feed a multitude! Remember, little is much when God is in it! Please pray as we begin planning for the 10-year anniversary Back 2 School Bash on Saturday, July 28, 2018! We would love to have your support, assistance, and most of all your prayers. If you are interested in helping or supporting the Back 2 School Ministries financially, please contact the Harmony Free Will Baptist Church Office at 423-725-3338.
(The Solution Column is provided by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church and his associate, Hunter Greene.)