Psalm 147:3 says, “HE heals the brokenhearted and binds up
their wounds”.
Heaven’s Kitchen!
A young local arts and history major had awoken to a new day.
Her heart trembled within the moment like a spiritual earthquake of the soul.
Excitedly watching the skies, scanning every space in front of her and all the faces ofthose nearby…
so the zeal of her LORD felt far greater than it ever had before!
Something had shifted, she was certain of it!
In her deepest core, she knew something had surely changed!
The daily normalcy she’d once coveted had now been
overwhelmed by waves of Urgency.
Any distance from front line service had been erased and she soon found herself giddy with anticipation…
…standing in front of a nameless, downtown soup kitchen
this morning.
A sudden and unconscious exhale produced enough of a billowing steam that her vision was clouded for a moment.
By the next breath, it had cleared and she noticed an older woman shuffling towards to the door to unlock it.
Ama quickly noticed that this individual was pleasant both in her appearance and her smile.
“That’s just what every homeless person needs!” she thought to herself.
“Someone to shed Hope and Light through glass…even before the door’s opened!”
And with that, the wooden door creaked open briskly.
“How may I help you?”, Nancy asked. Her blue name tag was worn and faded some but announced her nonetheless quite well.
Surprisingly caught off guard, Ama fumbled for a moment. “I’m sorry! I know you’re not open as yet but… “, she paused briefly. “I felt led, I mean…I want to help.”
The older lady smiled kindly. Reaching up to the younger woman, she gently took her hands. “ Then she lifted her gaze until she was directly looking into Ama’s.
After several seconds and a single teardrop which slipped down her cheek, Nancy spoke with a whispered volume.
“I’m sorry, child.” Here she trailed off, overcome with emotion. Ama felt the squeeze of her hands and realized this was a much deeper conversation.
Nancy began again. “I am very sorry, child.” Ama gently nodded her head and softened her own gaze considerably.
“I just don’t know where to go from here. My husband has just passed and while we have people helping and willing to help…I can’t go on. I just don’t have the strength anymore.”
Ama then guided her to a nearby chair and once seated, handed her two tissues from the nearby Kleenex box.
A weighty pause stood between them not for awkwardness but for the gravity of the situation.
This aged woman opening up the store was actually looking at her from several pictures framed on the walls.
Photos of her with thankful homeless people she gathered.
But her ongoing scan of the many, hanging frames caught glimpse of someone she recognized. “Nettie Nelson!
Almost instantly and unconsciously, she left Nancy’s side to more closely examine the image.
After a short couple of seconds, she exclaimed out loud “It IS her!” as if the whole room was full of people just awaiting her verdict.
And as her gaze shifted she saw another face she knew. Spinning into the restful gaze of Nancy, she nearly blurted out.
“Tell me that’s Isaiah Ramoz!” and her elder simply nodded her head in agreement.
At this point, Ama had to step back.
Overwhelmed by the fact there were so many other picture frames to consider, she began to grasp the importance and significance of the place.
She ventured onward and became deeply engaged with each discovery as Nancy opened up the soup kitchen.
Spending a good 15 minutes just surveying Nancy’s collection of faces, Ama finally remembered she was there to help.
Then scurrying quickly to find Nancy in the small, one story pantry, she was just focused on providing the very help she’d felt GOD prompting her to give.
She soon caught up with the matriarch of Kin’s Kitchen, catching her when she wasn’t busy.
“Nancy! I’m…I’m a local art and history major up at the college and your in pictures here with several people that were instrumental in the growth of this city!”
“I had no idea! But…I’m getting ahead of myself!”
Smiling awkwardly now, she stepped back and got ready to ask where Nancy would like her to serve.
But as she began to question, a soft hand was very gently placed on her right shoulder.
Stopping mid-sentence and following Nancy’s gaze above her, she turned to greet one of the kindest faces she’d seen on
the wall!
All Ama could do was mouth the name, “Nettie!” This woman was as pleasant as they come and the young college student couldn’t believe she was meeting her!
Excitedly missing any type of introduction, Ama then went through a short history summary of what Nettie had brought to the town in the form of arts and music.
Nettie just smiled at Nancy with a knowing look and then back to the talkative girl in front of her.
Older than Ama yet still younger than Nancy, Nettie proved to be a vibrant source of conversation.
And so much so that Nettie, taking a cue from Nancy, interjected.
“Well its beginning to get busy here. Would you care to stay and help out?” Ama was speechless. “You…you work here?”
Nettie erupted in laughter as if she’d been told she had two arms…as if it was something new!
Ama momentarily stepped back in mild confusion. Because walking in the door was Isaiah Ramoz!
The most creative and expressive of contributors to their small art museum!
She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him or from continuing to talk with Nettie.
He’d heard the laughter and was making a straight line towards the trio.
As he came closer, Ama saw that he was also about Nettie’s age.
Something she’d neglected to learn in her earlier studies.
He pulled out an apron and wordlessly smiled while tying the strings behind his back.
Once completed, the lull in the rush continued and the four stood there, enjoying the moment.
Ama meant to ask if he worked here too but the obvious needed no questions.
Until Isaiah picked up where Nettie had left off. “It’s great to see
You, Ama!” he politely offered with a grin.
Now this college student was beside herself. “How do you know me?”
Isaiah laughed as equally and as energetically as Nettie had just a few minutes prior.
“Why you put articles in the Daily Gazette, don’t you?” Ama stopped herself. She’d thought no one looked at her writing.
This was such a beautiful experience that she could only think of one more question.
So she swung her attention back to the grandmotherly figure of Nancy.
“Nancy, who was your husband?”
With this whispered inquiry, Nettie and Isaiah put their arms around Nancy and placed their cheeks against hers.
Ama’s thoughts were swimming.
She was trying to piece information together from all that she knew, all that she had just seen and arrived at the conclusion.
“He was John, wasn’t he? John Rivkin.”
Now if a glow could have been seen, it would surely have surrounded this quartet of kindred souls.
After several moments of reverent silence, Nancy lifted her head as Nettie and Isaiah did theirs.
“Yes, yes. That was my precious John…and he built this place brick by brick so many years ago.”
Now things began connecting dots like a laser printer at light speed.
The formerly unnamed patriach was John Rivkin, Nancy’s husband.
Formerly unnamed because this place had no name on the outside.
Formerly unknown to Ama due to the quiet perseverance of this small collective of family minded people.
“Why has this placed stay unnamed for so long and…” She paused here to look into their three faces.”
And what’s the connection of you three?”
Well the smiles of this group then ignited Joy within and Nancy stood up from her chair to hold Ama’s hands this time.
“Ama,” she began quietly, “this place has always had a name, just not on the door. It’s Kin’s Kitchen.”
Ama would have shrunk to the floor if not for the steadfast human pillar before her. “Oh yes!, she exclaimed to herself.
That completed the picture. Rivkin…Kin’s Kitchen.
So she shared this thought as they all headed back to helping serve the homeless gathering there.
With her statement of fact, Isaiah stole a quick glance at the two women and tearfully shook his head.
“John was much humble and too reserved to take any credit or put his name on anything.”
“To answer your other question about what’s our connection,
why I guess due to your research you might have already known.”
Looking down on her with the tears still slowly sliding down his cheeks,
he managed to share his heart.
“Momma here,” nodding towards Nancy, “is our foster mother. So Kin’s Kitchen…is our family.”
Nancy began trembling again with the presence of the Holy SPIRIT moving within her.
This…this was beyond special. This was meant to be.
Her head had been bowed with thankfulness so when a hand stretched towards her, she instinctively looked up.
And in that hand was Nancy’s apron.
“Ama, I prayed for a handmaiden from GOD to help us…and here you are.!”
With this, Isaiah and Nettie each put an arm around Ama and Nancy announced the final question.
“Will you join us, Sister?”
As HIServant in your service, unworthy and undeserving but ever willing to continue,
Whitney
Nancy: Anne’s Hebrew and Greek roots translate it to “grace” or “favored” and can be perfectly suited to your elegant and poised bundle of joy. In addition,
Nancy’s connection to the Greek name Agnes can translate to “pure,”
Nettie: “GOD has favored me.” Coming from the Hebrew name Neta, it also translates to “plant,”
Also from the French name Annette, it means “favor” or “grace,” or Jeanette, meaning “GOD is gracious.”
Isaiah: Isaiah is a masculine name of Hebrew origin, meaning “salvation of the LORD.”
Derived from the Hebrew phrase Yeshayahu, meaning “GOD saves!”
Ama: Ama’s connection to Amalia, a German title associated with endearments like “brave,” “vigorous,” “unceasing,” and “diligent.” Ama’s Japanese version translates to “sky” or “heaven.”
May we gather together then, Beloved, each day to bring health and healing to every homeless unbeliever!
Amen and amen.
2CJC 