We were looking online for preschool name-writing activity ideas. We saw one in which the kids traced their names in glue and then covered the glue with little marshmallows to make the letters. So cute, right? The elementary school teacher in me loves it.The teacher, who grew up here in Monte Plata, looked at the picture and said "But that idea doesn't make sense! You can't eat the food after you put it in glue! They're wasting it!"
I had to explain that in America, food is never really "scarce" and that we sometimes use marshmallows, cheerios, fruit-loops, etc. as craft supplies instead of actual food.
She looked at me like that was the craziest thing she'd ever heard.
Maybe it is.
She made me think that Americans would have to be insane to purposefully ruin food.
Maybe we are.
With that in mind, take a look at this article called What the North American Church is Most Hungry For by Ann Voskamp.
“God gives the world enough of what it needs. All He asks is that we distribute what He gives...Because if you end up waiting to give when you know how much you have in the bank account, in the budget, in the back pocket –you can end up giving God your left overs, not your first fruits...God doesn’t want your leftovers. God wants your love overtures, your first-overs, because He is your first love. "As the title of this blog states, I've been challenged today to think about my priorities using this question: "Am I wasting what I have and only giving only what's left over?" I understand if you want to use food as a craft project with your kids. My next question might sound a bit harsh, but I'm praying that instead of making you mad it solely makes you think about God's priorities and how your personal priorities align with His. If you're willing to spend money on food that your kids aren't even going to eat, are you also using the financial resources God has given you to provide food for children who have nothing to eat today? I know what you're thinking, because it's what I thought for years when I lived in America. "But Kristin, I can't actually send food to starving kids. The cheerios on the grocery store shelf here have to be bought by someone. These cheerios aren't going to be sent to Africa." You're right, but the money in your wallet that you're using to buy those cheerios that you aren't even going to eat can be sent with the click of a button to a ministry somewhere that is caring for orphaned, severely impoverished, sick, at-risk children. I'm simply suggesting today that we - all of us, including myself - take a moment to realign our priorities with those of the Lord. The way you spend your time, the way you save or spend your money, the way you interact with those around you, the way you speak to (or about) your family...does it reflect our Savior or does it reflect your sinfulness and selfishness? I'm praying that you are all as convicted today as I am, and that our conviction turns into confession, forgiveness, sanctification, and action on behalf of our great God in the world.
*If you would like information on sponsoring one of our children for $39/mo, please email me at Kristin.L.Barber@gmail.com.
