Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Today, I traveled to a little town and met a family that I thought I was going to help. A family that I knew had a little girl with some developmental concerns but as we walked through the front door I quickly realized the needs were much more than I expected.
Instead of one child it quickly became five children that needed help! The more time I spent with the family in their home the more I realized the specific roles and the dynamics of the family. The children that were present were well-behaved and seemed to enjoy the activities.
After working with the children, they started to get hungry as it was about lunch time. Their dad said, “Do you want lunch? How about some beans?” The kids were so excited and jumped up and ran to the table. The dad needed help opening the beans and once they were open they put them into the bowls; the kids started eating. They were not just eating as you or I normally observe; there was a sense of urgency, a definite intent to their actions. The children were eating cold beans. Cold beans!…The children were excited about cold beans!
I found myself watching them. Realizing that I was the one that was getting help today. All I could think about was Proverbs 22:9 “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” Am I helping enough? Would my children eat cold beans? NO…they wouldn’t have anything to do with cold beans. That’s okay that my children wouldn’t eat the cold beans but it’s not okay just to observe and not help. Why don’t we help? Is it that we don’t notice? Are we afraid to help? My heart wants to help! I desire for my children to understand poverty and serve the needy!
Father, I thank you for my experience today. Thank you for letting me meet a family that seems to have such little but seems so grateful! I pray that my heart will never forget the excitement I saw today when the children received their cold beans! I pray that I can teach my children to love and serve the needy. I pray that my children would know that Truth and be more observant on how they can help. “The Godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all.” Proverbs 29:7