I like that picture of preparedness and have been exhorting myself and the girls with it ever since. I want to see trouble coming and get out ahead of it. I want to know my limitations and responsiblities and make preparations. I hope to be humble and self-aware, and prayerfully have a plan. In all these things the goal is to glorify God.
The Bible teaches us to give.
Give to the beggar. Give the shirt off our back too, to the one who has asked for our coat. Give more effort than is required. Give out of our poverty, not just our excess. Give care to the practical needs. Give time. Give correction. Give hope. Give.
Last night Fifi, Dumpling, Cuddlebug and I had a wonderful time shopping our local warehouse store and Walmart for high-nutrition, non-perishables and select toiletries. We just can't continue to drive past the "Homeless and Hungry," or "Veitnam Vet," or "Will Work for Food" signs any longer. We must have something to give them, and I don't carry money.
So we're assembling care packages and will start with 14 bags, and re-evaluate after they've been passed out. Here's what we decided to include:
1 bottled water
1 Cliff Bar
2 6-count packages of peaut butter crackers
1 snack box of raisins
1 fruit cup tangerines or diced peaches
1 Slim Jim
1 pack of Orbit gum
toothbrush
travel-sized toothpaste
Germ-X
lip balm
short letter of encouragement
When we added up the calories, we arrived at 1010! So we're calling these care packages our "1000-calorie packs." The girls had such fun assembling them, though it took a little redirection for Cuddlebug; her first bag had 5 packages of peanut butter crackers, a couple of the gums, and none of whatever didn't appeal to her! After we were finished, she found me in the kitchen and asked, "Mommy? Are there people who don't have any food? Any food at all?"
Dumpling is very excited that my favorite item in the bag was by her suggestion: the lip balm. I am easily irritated by the discomfort of dry lips in the wintertime. It would make me absolutely crazy to not be able to put something on them, so I'm happiest about giving someone that little extra comfort.
Fifi just has a heart to make things better for people, I think -- as do most 11-year-olds. She's a wise girl who knows enough about the fallen world to not be too easily duped, but still tender enough to not worry much about being too easily duped. She is joyfully anticipating the first hand-off.
I'm fully aware that sometimes the "homeless" are actually scam artist who make $40,000 annually and live in a pretty nice apartment. I know that some of them are just looking for money for drugs or alcohol -- the next fix. Some are mentally ill.
But I'm not called to make those judgments. I'm told only to give, and I'll trust God with the gift.
It's all His anyway; He is certainly more capable of taking care of what is His, than am I.
13 comments:
What a great idea, and how wonderful to get the girls involved. Teaching faith in action!
Wow. Your children are so blessed to have you as an example. You are blessed to have such great kids. I am blessed to read your blog!
My kids and I talked about doing this very thing just yesterday as we passed a man holding a hungry sign. My 6 year old had a hard time wrapping his brain around the idea that some people don't get a decent meal and oreos everynight before they go to bed.
I have some extra money right now, and I'm going to steal your idea TODAY. Thank you for the extra inspriration!
That is a wonderful idea. I had done something like this one year (why I didn't continue I don't know). Our church had bags with a pamphlet containing examples of Jesus as "homeless" - because He really was "homeless" - that you would take and fill with non-perishables and hand out. It really did feel good to give. I might have to do that again. Thanks for the reminder.
Grafted, that is great! We have done the same type of thing in the past and the kids love being able to help and then to look for people to give them to. We called them "Friendship Bags".
Thank you for the reminder as I have been thinking we need to stock up again and make our bags, and you have just inspired me to get it done now!
Have a blessed Sunday!
I thought this was great! I wish I could've had a peek at your letter. :0) I've packed away the idea for us to do someday (hope that's okay).
This is such a wonderful idea, GB, and it's even more wonderful that the girls are doing this. I agree that the lip balm is such a soothing touch. And if by chance one of your packs ends up with a scam artist, I would think this is such a touching gesture of kindness, it might make that person feel a little ashamed.
Wonderful. I hope everyone who reads this blatantly copies your idea!
When we can find the money, we like to include gloves, hat, and a blanket as the temperature drops. Packed in a backpack, also as money permits. All of those items can often be found at the GoodWill or Salvation Army for very little money!
We've also been known to purchase bus passes and give them with simple maps to get someone to a local shelter when a foot of snow was expected. Don't know if they have been used, but we pray they were.
You know, GB, God judges us by our hearts and not by the results of our actions. It doesn't matter to Him, in loving you, what the person to whom you gave does with the items or has done in the past, etc., etc. What He sees is your pure heart. Your heart like His - that is compassionate. He is compassionate.
My post that was eaten this weekend was on this very subject - Compassion being Faith in Action. I'm slowly trying to rewrite it. You inspire me to take the time to do so.
Compassion. Jesus had it on the hungry, the lost, the hurting. Who is hungrier, more lost, or in more pain than those living on the streets? Well done, good and faithful servant!
You humble me. You inspire me. You encourage me. As iron sharpens iron.
Well done!
In Christ alone,
Kari
What great ideas, Kari! I hadn't thought of any of that since...well...it was 85 degrees and humid the day we packed up! Ick. It's October and it's WRONG! ;)
But in January, (December if we're blessed) I'll rethink some different needs. Better start looking for gloves now, I guess.
We have done this before but just a water bottle and granola bar. I love this! You thought of many of their needs! Many of them are in need of psychotic meds or alcoholics that crave sugar so you hit all aspects even to the lip balm! We have gone down to the homesless shelter with a church and fed them with our 5 kids then-it was a rich experience. Thanks for resparking a desire that my family has and giving us an idea that we can easily do!
What a fabulous idea. So thoughtful and compassionate. I love it that the girls were so involved. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hello,
I'm a new reader to your blog. My name is Heather. My dh and I are in our mid to late 20s with 4 children so far, a boy (6 1/2 yr), 3 girls (4 1/2, 2 1/2, at 10 mth), and more if the Lord so grants.
I've loved what I've read, and so I've added you to my Bloglines, and am going through your archives. Many lifestyle convictions in common, though how they play out may vary. However, more importantly you seem to have a like spirit of wanting to honor the Lord in all things, but humbly accepting other Christians who disagree.
I like the sound of what you've described with these bags. I was wondering how it went, if this is something that you've continued to do, etc. Maybe an update post since it's been a while? Oh, and did you ever think of including a pocket-sized NT or Bible?
Blessings,
Heather
I love what you are doing here. I especially love that you are teaching your girls how to love and give to others. Thanks for teaching us all something.
Melissa :D
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