It’s not just a box of fresh vegetables

Every so often, David offers to purchase a box of fresh vegetables as a gift for one of our Tamil asylum seeker families. He usually greets the family but leaves it at the front door. This particular time it wasn’t just about delivering a box of fresh vegetables. On arrival, the family invited David inside to have a cup of tea, so David accepted.

Raj, Jani, and their children sat together over tea to talk about everyday life. Raj shared some of his aspirations for the future, and David felt the Lord gave him some wisdom to impart as Raj shared his ideas. Raj was very thankful for the listening ear, and David was very happy to be there.

And so, it wasn’t just about a box of vegetables. It was about connection and friendship and an openness and willingness to give up not only some personal funds to deliver some fresh food but also the willingness to give time, listen and share over a cup of tea with a fresh box of vegetables sitting in the background.

Raj asked if he could take a selfie with David, and when I saw this photo, it brought tears to my eyes. Here are two people from such different backgrounds giving and receiving from each other. What a beautiful picture of how the Lord meets us. He provides, he listens, he cares, he gives, and we receive.

So, it wasn’t just about a box of vegetables; it was a box of vegetables, a cup of tea mixed in with a listening ear, a time of sharing and loving kindness among three people who were strangers an hour earlier.

(Photo used with permission. Raj is not his real name due to privacy.)