JUNE 2025
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Keeping our valued volunteers informed
GM’s Corner I’ve been having conversations with many of our volunteers talking about warmer weather, gardens, flowers, weeding, and potato plants that have burst through the soil already. Along with those comments I’ve also heard comments related to soreness and stiffness that comes with rediscovered Spring gardening passion. And yet soreness and stiffness mean I’ve been getting exercise that is good for my body, keeping me healthy. It seems like that could be a lesson for life. So often joy and blessing is mixed with challenge and pain. In a recent conversation a friend observed that I had used the word “struggle” multiple times while sharing about a personal challenge. As I reflected on my circumstances, I wondered what would happen if I
were to reframe my struggle and begin to see it as a gift. What a change in perspective that is bringing! There’s a Bible verse that says, “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2,3). Is there something you been viewing as a struggle or pain that might actually be a gift to you, resulting in good fruit? May you find joy in your current season of life, even through the struggles and pain.
Tim Albrecht
General Manager MCC Thrift, St. Catharines