A Bonus to Count On

For the last four years, our church has sponsored a day long women's retreat. For the last four years, the men of our church have cooked for us, served us on china and silver, and washed more dishes than one could count. The retreat team decided it was time to honorwith a dinner those that serve us so faithfully. Last night was the night. The team cooked an old fashioned meal; pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, cole slaw, beets, rolls and caramel apple pie with ice cream. We thought the menu reflected a man's appetite. There were seven ladies who cooked, served and cleaned up after approximately twenty guys. After night's end, we ladies had a whole new appreciation for the sacrifice our men make for us on that one day in February each year. We were pooped and we had only served one meal. They serve two meals and work a whole day in preparation and clean up, some of them beginning at 4:00 a.m. This past February, about 40 guys served 312 ladies. Kudos to them! We shall not take them for granted. We couldn't do what we do without them.
Our retreat team is made up of seven ladies. All but one of our team members has been with us from the first year. We have become a tightly knit group. We plan and execute the women's retreat each year but more than that, we share our lives; our joys and our sorrows. Life is made of both, you know. We have found that sharing it makes the joys more joyful and the sorrow less painful. Last evening we shared some painful things that are current happenings in our lives and the lives of our family members. After the concerns were voiced, we brought it all to Jesus in prayer. What relief. The reality was revealed and now we bring it all to the only one who can do something about it. We believe in divine intervention. We know God in three persons has the power to do what we can't. There is such comfort in knowing His plan is bigger than we can see. There is also comfort in giving and receiving His love between each other. I know I can count on these ladies to give me advice, comfort, care and even correction if needs be. I cherish my friends on this team. Do you have people outside of your family you can count on? Faithful family is core, faithful friends are a bonus.