November 16, 2018 – Food for Thought

We are now in the holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving and rising to the excitement of Christmas, I believe that there will be great joy for a number of people.  I truly hope that at some point, the excitement that takes place will be one of thankfulness for the greatest gift of all, God’s Son.

We will able to see the success of some programs you may have in your area such as The Feast of Sharing, The Feast of Thankfulness, Toys for Tots, Angel Tree, Santa’s Helpers, and so on. I pray that all of you will find some way to participate, whether it is through some of the programs mentioned, monies donated at work, or through what you do with your church and families. Please try and find some way to serve others, and take our youth along with you. They need to see the other side in meeting the needs and desires of those who were less fortunate this year, don’t you think?

And let us remember those who will not find the holidays joyful… those who have lost loved ones, who are lonely, who have loved ones in harm’s way, who are marginalized. We need to reach out to them and pray for them, as well. Bless you and thank you for making a blessed difference in the lives of others.

Let us also think about what will happen when the joy of giving is over for the Christmas season? What happens to those who are hungry when all the banquets are no longer around? We will see a number of them back on the street corners with signs, “Will work for food”, or “Hungry, can you spare some change?” This weighs heavily on my mind as I wonder what I can do. The biggest thing that I often get caught up in, and maybe you, too, is wondering what they will do with the money if I actually give them some. However, I remind myself that I am not to judge, but to help where I can.

So, I would like to propose this idea to all of you: how about keeping a couple of $5 gift cards in your glove box or own your person? I would like to recommend places such as Subway, Whataburger, Sonic, Jack-in-the-Box, and McDonalds. Most of them are open late, or even 24 hours. Additionally, they have breakfast to offer, as well. The $5 card will allow the holder to get an entrée, side item and drink from the value meal menus.  I admit that $5 may be more than one might give at any one time in a situation like this. But what is $5.00, anyway? Not even a bucket of popcorn at the movies, a sandwich for lunch, a cup of that favorite latte we pick up every day, or bottle of nail polish.

Please join me in continuing to help provide for those that Jesus has said “we will always have with us” or how about these two verses we have in our scripture reading Matt. 25: 40 ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ or Matt.25: 45 ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

It truly will not hurt us at all and can make a world of difference for someone who is hungry.

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and may it be a blessed New Year for all!

And the people of God said, Amen.