By: Brenda Wilkerson
Chick-fil-A day was a huge success! For some reason, I was very nervous as I executed the plan to go pick up the huge order in the mobile order line at CFA drive-thru and get to my bus early enough to load four bags of sandwiches and a heavy cooler of chilled drinks without too many raised eyebrows.
I securely placed the sandwiches in the underbelly storage compartment as to keep the glorious aroma from filling the entire bus during my first route of my elementary bus babies!
Once I made it to the high school, I only had about seven minutes to throw together a makeshift assembly line to put a sandwich, homemade cookie, and a little personal hand written note in each individual bag. I organized them in seat #2 for quick grab-n-go as they loaded onto the bus for their very last regular school day before the madness of half-days, exams, and graduation kicked in.
I wish I could have somehow secretly recorded a video and let you experience the looks on their faces when they got to the top of my steps, took in a deep breath of God’s chicken, and saw the feast prepared before them!
The giddy chatter and scramble for their brown paper bags was a relief as more human interaction was beautifully evident in place of the somber and quiet, airplane-type atmosphere. In the moments of treat distribution, I was asked several questions that I don’t think I was ready for.
One girl didn’t want her sandwich and wanted to give it to a friend. I said, “Yes.” One of my riders had a brother that didn’t ride in the afternoons but he wanted to take him a goody bag. I said, “Yes.” My mind only hesitated for a second that one of my goody bags would go to somebody other than my bus sister, but in an instance, God reminded me of his limitless grace. So the only thing that came out of my mouth to these kids was ‘yes.’ There was plenty to go around.
After they were all settled in and we were on the road, I announced over the radio that these sandwiches were provided by a group of kind strangers from all over that loved them enough to gift them this special treat. I got several shouts of appreciation, thumbs up, and several big hearty “Thank You’s.”
At one point, I decided to turn down a street where one of my suspended students lived and delivered a goody bag to the front porch.
I was flooded and filled with the reminder and correlation of God’s love and grace and eternity offered to all, for all. No hesitation. To anyone. Ever. No keeping score or reminders of how much we didn’t deserve it.
I barely remember the drive back to the school after the last stop. I was fully resting in God’s promises. Resting after crossing the finish line well. Resting in the fact that I listened to the Holy Spirit when prompted.
I am joyfully exhausted! Exactly where I want to stay! I am deeply grateful for the monetary gifts and prayers for these kids!
Lord, I am in awe of your work. The coming together of strangers for a common good… Your good. Let these seeds of kindness in a cruel world be watered by others You have orchestrated to come along in the days to come. I’m gonna be honest, I don’t want this year to end, but I am confident that if You sent me, You can and will send others. Amen
By: Brenda Wilkerson
