Thursday, March 10, 2011

1000 Gifts: Serving

From the time our kids were born, they have helped us serve. Whether it was having to get up early and eat cereal in the car so I could serve as a Children's Leader in Bible Study Fellowship or squeezing into the back seat of the car so we could take another person to church, they have learned that serving involves cost. But they've also learned that the blessings far outweigh the costs.

Last week Ryne and Grace had a field trip to a local food bank, and I could have never imagined what an enormous blessing this experience was going to be.

28. The mom who proposed this idea. Our field trip group visits a nursing home every December, but this was the first time a service oriented field trip was planned outside the holidays. We all agreed we need to do this more often.

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29. The companies and business that donate food and resources.

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22,000 pounds of onions!

30. A well-run food network; this particular food bank serves 66,000 people a week. With an annual budget of $11.8 million, less than 3% is used for administration and fundraising expenses.

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31. The individuals that donate. Every can and every box is appreciated.

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32. Better understanding the magnitude of what it takes to feed the hungry.

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33. Working hard.

34. Working with friends.


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35. Nothing goes to waste. Even the vegetables we had to throw away get delivered to the zoo for hungry animals.

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36. Understanding the work to feed the poor never ends. Fifteen minutes before noon, it appeared our job was done. Our boxes were empty and we were all tired, ready to eat lunch. But then the fork lifted brought us three new crates of grapefruit to sort and bag. Some in our group had been sorting grapefruit for over two hours. But we took a deep breath and got back to work. Amazingly, I hardly heard a complaint during those last fifteen minutes.

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37. Finished at last, but changed. Grace's prayers that night revealed how much she was affected. We were shown a video about all the programs the organization has in place to feed hungry children. She lovingly prayed for the school children who would receive back packs of food to take home. And she prayed for the people who would volunteer the next day.

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You too can join others in acknowledging the Lord's many gifts here.

4 comments:

  1. What a great service opportunity! There were children at the school where I taught who did not eat when school was not in session. They were dependent upon services like this one. This makes me want to find volunteer work for us. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Awesome life lesson for the kids! I need to find one around here and take mine!

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  3. A great field trip. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
    Blessings
    Diane

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  4. I’m here from Ann’s – and it’s Thursday – I’d say I’m late – but since you just posted I don’t have to :) Kind of perfect timing.

    My fave from the list by the way - 37. Finished at last, but changed. (what an amazing thing to do with your kids – I can see memories that will never fade there – and lessons) {smile}

    Your list was contagious, and I’m more thankful for having read it.

    God Bless and Keep you and yours

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