Caitlin Crosby spoke at a church function in Camarillo on October 20th. On my way out, I passed Caitlin’s key table and purposefully chose a “Breathe” key to give my sister. I then grabbed another one with nobody in particular in mind, just to support The Giving Keys. I stuck it in my purse and didn’t look at it for a couple days. When I took it out, the inscription was “Grace.” Well, that made me a little cranky... ”Grace?" Now I know that we all need God’s grace but to come across someone that I am going to be able to say, "Oh, you need God’s grace... Here, I have this key for you,” seemed kind of extreme and/or difficult. So I left that key in my purse, grumbling every time I saw or touched it. Why didn’t I get a key that read “Healing,” or “Peace,” or something easy to give?
Last weekend I went with my friends Vikki and Joy to Bethel, Redding for some spiritual rejuvenation. At the end of the Friday night service, a pastor from a church in Glendale (Expression 58) was invited to speak for a few minutes. He was amazing and gifted and the enormous congregation was hanging on his every word.
About two thirds of the way through his message, he stopped and said (paraphrasing), “I’ve been wearing this key around my neck for a few weeks now. It’s a Giving Key. Has anybody ever heard of the Giving Keys? It’s an awesome organization in southern California that is taking homeless people off the streets.” (I leaned over to the person next to me and whispered, “I have one in my purse!” He continued, “Mine says “Create.” I was given it because I was writing a children’s book. But now it’s time for me to give it away. Is Leah still here... she needs this key now.” Then a little voice reminded me of the word on my Giving Key... maaannn... Lord, who will I ever be able to give this necklace to?
The next night I was having dinner with Vikki, Joy, and a friend of Joy’s named Hope who had just come through a trying situation with her family. As she told me more of her story, she mentioned several times that it is only God’s grace that was continuing to bring her family through this period... WHAM! "Hope, I have something for you!" Her eyes welled up and then so did mine. God is so good and fun!
-Marta
