“Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it’s useless.” ~ James 2:17
In Maple Hollow, a
small mountain town where winter lingered too long, many elders lived in quiet
confinement. A single porch step could become an unscalable wall, keeping them
from neighbors, church events, and even the sunlight’s warmth. But sometimes
God answers with a hammer, some nails, and an old carpenter with a willing
heart.
At 76, Greg “Smitty” Smith
thought he’d laid his tools to rest. After decades of building houses, he was
tired. Then he heard God’s gentle whisper: “Your work isn’t finished.”
That Voice became
purpose the day he witnessed 87-year-old Elaine inching down her icy steps,
dragging an oxygen tank behind her on a plastic sled. It’s dangerous, but I
haven’t seen my granddaughter in months,” she barked, her words more prayer
than judgment.
When Smitty offered to
build a ramp, she wept openly. “I can’t afford you.”
Then, using scrap wood
scavenged from a construction dumpster, Smitty built the ramp in three days.
When she rolled down it without struggle, she grasped his arm. “I’ve got my
life back!”
From that moment, her world expanded. She could sit on her
porch again, attend church functions, and reach doctors’ appointments without
being carried down the steps. Smitty knew immediately that he hadn’t just built
a ramp… he’d enabled freedom.
Over the next fifteen
years, Smitty designed and supervised nearly 350 ADA-approved wheelchair ramps
for people who couldn’t afford them. Each one was crafted with prayer and compassion.
A small army of volunteers
joined him - teens wanting purpose, retirees with time to spare, and neighbors
eager to put their faith into action. Smitty always insisted he was only part
of the team. “I believe God called me to do this before I take my last bow,”
he said. “I love this!”
Now, the most
important tools he uses are his crutches. A stroke 3 years ago left his right
side paralyzed, but his spirit never dimmed. He continued to design every ramp,
manage supplies, deliver lumber, and mentor the volunteers with the steadiness
of a seasoned builder.
Over time, he refined the process. Prefab sections of
pressure-treated wood are assembled in his garage, making them reusable and
allowing them to be installed throughout the year.
Bolts replaced deck screws for faster builds. Stanchions
replaced in-ground posts to reduce cost and labor. Donations from churches and
lumber stores covered every expense, ensuring not a single recipient ever paid
a cent. Grace funded the entire mission.
In Maple Hollow, those ramps became far more than timber
and technique. They became witnesses of mercy, pathways to restored dignity,
and sacred reminders that true faith never stops moving. It’s a wonderful
reminder that the greatest gifts are those that empower others to live fuller,
more independent lives. Just ask Elaine.
Holy Father, let my work reveal a living faith, patterned after Jesus’
example. Keep my heart open, obedient, and ready to serve those in need. Amen
