For the first time in my 39 years of life, I met a woman who I want to be when I grow up. When I grow up, I want to be just like Annie Mae Gathers: beautiful, forgiving, focused, generous,
optimistic, and drenched
in the Holy Spirit. Annie Mae has been a volunteer
in the Christian Help food pantry for eight years doing “whatever needs to be done”.
Having raised her own seven children, while working 21 years in janitorial services
with the school system
and 24 years cleaning domestically, Annie Mae is blessed
with 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Now, Annie Mae’s 84 years
of fervently serving others has transitioned to a dedication for volunteerism. She tells me, “I get something money can’t buy” when clients
coming to the food pantry
hug her and thank
her she says, “it’s like filling
up my tank with gas.” “At my age,” says Annie Mae, “I’m
feeling like I’m being of help to somebody”. She adds, “if you want a place you feel competent that you are helping, you can come to Christian
Help”. “They show a lot of love, you can feel it when you go into the pantry.”
Annie Mae attributes her motivation and inspiration to her relationship with God. She shares with me, “you’ve
got to have your card activated--that relationship with God-- otherwise nothing
is going to work for you---it makes you love one another.” She tells
me she gets up on Thursdays and prays, “God, you and me are going to the pantry today!” And God never fails to inspire Annie Mae on mornings when the pantry
is bare and the volunteers gather
to pray and just in time a truck pulls up fulfilling all their needs. In addition, on her days away from Christian Help, Annie Mae blends her joy of cooking with her generosity: Just last Monday she made spaghetti and fed three neighborhood families in need!
I will never forget Annie Mae Gathers. She’s the type of person I enjoy just being in the
same room with, soaking up her wisdom,
and watching God’s light emanate from her
eyes. With God’s help, when I am 84 years old, I want to be ....beautiful, forgiving, focused, generous, optimistic, and drenched in the Holy Spirit.
