Giving away what we want to keep.

by Karen Best Wright - www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

As everyone knows, Christmas is the time we think more about others and how we might help meet their needs. We give food to the less fortunate through food drives, add a little cash to the red kettle outside of the grocery store, and hopefully do something special for someone who might be forgotten.

With the economy negatively affecting so many more people this year, even the food banks are low on food. At our children's elementary school, there was a big food drive to help the needy families in our community. Our two grandchildren are in 1st and 2nd grade. Our youngest was determined that her class would bring in the most cans and win the ice cream party the principal has promised them after Christmas break. Now she did understand the reason for bringing in food for the needy, but an ice cream party was a big bonus.  

Each day during the food drive, she would come home and tell me how many cans her class had collected and how many cans "Dalton" had brought in that day. She had been the only girl invited to Dalton's birthday party. So, what Dalton did, she paid attention to.

Each day, I would put a couple of cans in her back pack. Finances this month were tighter than usual, and I found myself going through my kitchen cabinets and selecting the cans that I liked the least, the cans I didn't mind giving away. When I realized what I was doing, I was ashamed of myself. I then thought, "What if I were in the situtation of needing to get my groceries from the Food Bank, what type of food would I hope they had to give me?" So I changed my approach. I started sending my favorites. For some reason, this experience touched something deep within my soul.

We live in a rural community, and I really know nothing about our local food bank, if we even have one, but I am going to find out. It's like they called my phone without ever dialing the number. Oh by the way, my little girl's class did win the ice cream party. She was so proud of the boxes of cans that her class had brought to school for the families in need. But I think I learned the biggest lesson. Giving to those in need the things I do not want does not feel as good as giving them my favorites.

Comments

[Karen]

I was once the recipient of a food box when I was a divorced mother of 3. There were lots of cans of hominy, something I never bought and didn't know what to do with. Basically, like you, the people who had contributed gave the stuff they didn't like.

Ever since that experience,when I give food, I give things that I would like to receive. It just makes sense to give that which we would want for ourselves.

[Karen Best Wright]

G-Ma,
An update. I did do some research in our local rural area about a food bank. There is one started by a couple of women. They are needing to get the non-profit part established and need people they can trust to be on the required executive board. I offered to help, and they were delighted. So we'll see where that imaginary phone call goes. I believe helping them will in turn help me more than I even realize at this point.

[G-Ma]

This is just outstanding. You really touched my heart and conscience with this--as I've been guilty of doing the same thing with can selection. What a great way of teaching your grandkids about charity! Thanks, Karen!