A Lesson on Blessings

Volunteering at the NRG Shelter

I promise you guys I write in my journals more often than I blog. I guess I’m just used to the old pen and paper type of writing. Maybe I should start sharing some of my weird, boring yet intriguing journal entries with my readers…

I bet you would love that…I’ll consider it.

Anyway! Let’s get right to the point.

I decided to go to the NRG Shelter and volunteer through Neighborhood Centers to assist with displaced “guests” as a result of Harvey from Hell.

*Quick pause* I just want to say how pissed I am at Harvey because he’s getting way too much credit and attention. Okay back to what I was saying. . .

It’s been a few days and I’m still having trouble finding the words to describe what I saw for 4 hours as I roamed around the single women section looking for anyone that may have needed help. There were babies, young women, old women, black women, white women, all of which had their whole lives taken away from them. As so many of us have said, Harvey didn’t discriminate.

As I held back the tears and said a silent prayer, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for having a car, a home, hell even the pair of shoes that a couple women tried to take off my feet. I couldn’t do anything but think about how God blesses me daily. Here I am complaining about a few bills I can’t pay and these women have nothing. So…I did what I do best. Motivate.

As the only African American volunteer in a predominately black shelter, the guests naturally attached to me. I calmed down a few young, hot head girls trying to fight by reminding them who they truly were on the inside and how one mistake has many consequences. I helped a few elderly women in wheelchairs to the bathroom and outside to smoke. I have to say this part hurt the most. I couldn’t help but think about my grandmother Mil and how I spent the last year of her life taking care of her in every way possible. To see these old women in a shelter was heart-wrenching. The crazy part is they had children and grandchildren! Their stubborn unwillingness to mend differences, deal with behavioral issues, and love each other caused the elderly women to either pick the shelter over staying with family or be kicked out by loved ones.

I won’t say their names but I made a lot of friends. Towards the end there was lady whom I’ll call Shay that was 50 years old and didn’t look a day over 25. She lost her car, 5-bedroom home, and all documentation of her life when the reservoir was opened. Before then, her neighborhood had no flooding. I talked with her for over an hour until 1am (an hour past my volunteer shift). We smiled and laughed but behind it all, you could see the pain she felt. I wanted so bad to help her. My Superwoman Syndrome kicked in full force those 4 hours. If you know me, you know I will spend my last dime and all my energy helping people.

I promised them I would come back. They were so sad when I left and honestly…I was too. When I got home, I prayed verbally, mentally, and wrote down a few for my prayer jar.

Life is about what you do with it when you’re here. How you feel about certain situations and people. How you express love to one another. It’s the way Jesus wanted us to live. In faith, hope, but most importantly love. A few kind words go a long way. And…they’re free.

To my friends at NRG, may God continue to be with you.  Remember that everything you lost will be returned to you ten-fold. All you have to do is have mustard seed sized faith and a praying friend. . .me.

Note: When commenting on blog posts via mobile device, there will be what looks like a login screen. Just enter your name and click "comment as guest" to post comments. Love you all!