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Dear Friends,
Help Your Kids Help the
Homeless
One of the questions we get
asked from time to time is "Are there any things that we as a family
can do in ministry together?" Thanksgiving is a time that we
pause and reflect on the bounty that the Lord has blessed us with.
This story below by Jenni McCoy is one example
of how we can take some time as a family and minister to another less
fortunate.
"For years I
ignored the homeless panhandlers I passed on the street. I had convinced
myself that they didn't really want to work, and any money they collected
was probably used for alcohol or drugs.
Not that I was
unwilling to help those in need. Every Christmas I gave toys for the
children in homeless shelters. I felt I was helping as much as could be
expected. Aside from working at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, I saw
few options for getting more involved—especially with my young children
in tow. I was doing my part and that's what mattered, right?
But my kids saw
things differently. When we passed a homeless person on the street, I saw
people beyond help. They saw people in need and knew that we had the
means to help. When they'd ask why we didn't help that man on the
sidewalk, I'd explain that we didn't want to give him money because we
didn't want to encourage his lifestyle.
That answer only
worked for a while. Before long, they became relentless about finding a
way to help the homeless people they saw. The soup kitchen wasn't an
option, since most wouldn't allow young children to help. And while they
were great participants in the annual toy drive, my kids felt a real need
to do some thing more often than once a year.
So I began to pray
for ideas. Soon, God gave me the answer. The kids and I could put
together a "Needs Bag." We sat down and talked about the type
of needs we could fill for the people we met. First, we'd meet the
physical needs of food and drink with non-perishable food and a drink
box. Then we'd offer help for spiritual needs by adding a booklet of the
Gospels or a New Testament in an easy-to-understand translation (these
sell for less than a dollar at most Christian bookstores). We'd also
include a map and list of local soup kitchens, job training sites and
shelters in case they were unaware of the locations.
We shopped for
supplies and put together a few Needs Bags to keep in the car. Now when
we're out running errands, we give a bag to the needy people we see as
we're driving. We stop and ask them if they'd like a bag, then talk a bit
more (kids are naturals at this). As we drive away, we pray for the person—preferably
by name.
A few months later,
by a wonderful coincidence, our church started offering similar bags for
members of the congregation to distribute to the community. When God has
an idea, He passes it around!
This is not a
sophisticated solution to resolving the home less crisis, but it is an
outreach that my whole family can participate in. More importantly, it's
a way for children to live out Christ's charge to his disciples: "I
tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matt. 25:40)."
Jonni McCoy is the author of
Miserly Moms—Living on One Income in a Two Income Economy and Frugal
Families—Making the Most of Your Hard Earned Money (www.miserlymoms.com). She and
her family live in Colorado
Springs.
Bag It
To get started, all you
need are a few basics, like:
- tuna and crackers (individual serving
style)
- juice box or foil juice pack (individual
serving style)
- pudding or gelatin pack (individual
serving style)
- bread roll or bagel
- spoon
- napkin
- water bottle
- blanket (winter option)
- book of the Gospels or a New Testament
- information on local services, such as
soup kitchens, shelters and job training
Have fun
sharing yourself with your family!
Bruce McCracken
Founder, House on the Rock Family Ministries
P.S. If you have a Christmas
tradition that you would like to share, href="mailto:info@hotrfm.org">e-mail
me and I will be glad to compile them and attach them to an upcoming
Pebbles. If there is one there that you like, feel free to use it!
____________________________________________________________________
If you
found this information helpful, we have made other Pebbles of Truth articles available
on our website (www.hotrfm.org). Each
month we feature articles on the topics of: men's issues, marriage,
blended families, parenting, and church ministry to families. You will
also find a great deal more information about House on the Rock
Family Ministries! Thanks for visiting.
Please
feel free to forward this to friends and family … we just ask that you
keep it intact … thanks
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