We have been working on the issues of thankfulness and giving this month. The girls have battled some Prima Donna syndromes because they have been receiving a steady stream of new things since they have come to our house, thanks to the generosity of others. When at Christmastime, S was pouting because K had received an extra present (new shoes that she needed), Darren and I decided it was time to teach some lessons in gratitude.
We pulled out pictures of three different children we sponsor through World Relief, Compassion International, and World Vision and introduced the girls to Sanieka, Sam, and Yersson. We read their profiles to S & K, profiles which talked about the lack of education, food, and water unless sponsored and what the kids like to do for fun. We went over their living arrangements (Yersson's profile mentioned a house with a straw roof) and the girls' eyes got bigger and bigger. They wanted to know why anyone would have a straw roof akin to the "Three Little Pigs" story. I did my best to share with them that other kids in the world are thankful to get green beans to eat or one pair of shoes, let alone the volume of clothes, toys, and games the girls have (and yet, miraculously, have "nothing to do" on any given day).
That night at bedtime, S was saying her prayers, which usually go something like this, "And help me to go to sleep, and to not wake up very, very early, and if I do wake up early, to read books and not wake up my sister" (can you tell what has been an issue in the past?)...and the like. She wrapped up her prayer, and I told her that perhaps, instead of praying only about herself, she would pray for the kids whose pictures we had looked at.
Well, S is no slouch when it comes to prayer so she busts out, "And help those kids who are poor and help them to get lots and lots of toys and to be really, really, really rich.". Hmmm...not quite what I had in mind but she now faithfully prays that the "poor kids" get to lots of material possessions and the "really-s" increase in number each night (i.e. really, really, really, really, really rich).
Someday, I'll explain to her that "richness" has very little to do with money and more to do with her relationship with God, her family, her health, and her friends. After all, in the wisdom once printed on a No Fear t-shirt I saw, "He who dies with the most toys...still dies."
2 comments:
Jane, that has been a struggle in this house too...we don't buy everything we lay eyes on in the store and they have grown out of the "gimmes" quite a bit, but we do have more than enough "stuff". I have been toying with the idea of having a "rice and beans" meal each month and serving...you guessed it, black beans and rice by candlelight on a blanket on the floor. (I'm sure only 3 out of the 4 of us would eat it, but going to bed with a hungry tummy would teach something too!). I'm still brainstorming what the night would look like, but the big theme I know I want to drive home is that we are blessed and we want to be a blessing to others...and to nurture a heart in M and E of compassion and service, giving willingly and unreservedly. I'm thinking it will be a good reminder for me too. :)
Heather :)
I guess their mother is "Miriam Rich" so what can you expect? :) That was such a fun dinner. Anyway, I enjoyed your post!
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