Christian Living

---

When Vickie Hardin Woods retired, she knew it would be a big adjustment. Her days would no longer be subject to a set schedule, and she would be leaving many work friends behind.

Giving back to others seemed like a good way to adjust, and make a difference in the lives of others.How could she contribute in a way that people enjoyed, and that would allow her to learn more about the people she was interacting with? Everyone seems to enjoy pie, so she decided she would bake a pie a day and give it away.

Vickie set up some basic rules for giving away the pies. First, she would find a new pie recipient every day and at least some of them would be strangers. It was also important to use fresh local ingredients whenever possible. The last rule was that the ingredients should be pleasing to the pie recipient.

Friends and family also benefited from her generosity and the first pie she baked was a lemon meringue pie for her Aunt Carol, who was celebrating her 88th birthday. Aunt Carol and Uncle Norm held a special place in Vickie’s heart. She came to live with them when she was a teenager and had no other place to go.

Pie # 203 was butterscotch oatmeal. Vickie loaded the pie into her car and set out to find some blue skies and sunshine on the Oregon Coast. After having lunch at a seafood restaurant in Newport, she decided to take a walk on the docks, and find a pie recipient. Shad Hunter was getting the fishing vessel Suki ready to sail, and was thrilled to receive the pie.

As they talked, Vickie learned that Shad had lived in the Willamette Valley area until junior high and then moved to Lincoln City. The Suki would be leaving at 3:00 a.m. the next day to start a 21 hour run for their 300 crab pots.

What a wonderful way to give back! It makes me think of Luke 6:31: “Do to others as you would have them do unto you.”

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE