Homeschool Diva

We all sat at the red light waiting to turn.  We were heading to a dinner play date with friends at our local family friendly food stop.   As we waited, first in line to turn, we saw a man standing to our left holding a sign like this.

This is how the rest of our evening proceeded:

J:  “Mom that man says he is hungry and needs help.”

me:  silent

J: “Do you think he has a home?”

me: listening

J: “He is old and scruffy and he looks like he hasn’t had a bath for a very long time.”

me: acknowledging the situation to the best of my ability

Some time passes and we are now entering into the restaurant.

J: “Mom can we help him?”

me: “What do you think we should do?”

J: “Can we bring him some food?”

Me.  “Sure, when we leave remind me and we will buy him a sandwich to give to him.”

The kids play and eat and we are getting ready to leave.

J: “Mom don’t forget, we need to buy that man some food.”

me: went to purchase some food and then loaded the kids back in the car to take them to their next desitnation.

C: “That man needs help, we should pray for him.”

J: “Yes, God can help him.”

Me: “We can pray that God will give exactly what he needs.”

C: “Like a home, and some food and a family.”

Stuck at a red light.

J: “Oh I wish this light would go faster, we have to hurry to get to him. Mom what do we do if he is gone?”

Me: “We will pray for him.  God loves your heart to help.” as we get closer I can see that the man is gone.

C: “Mom we have to go find him.  We have to search for him. God goes to find lost things.”

Me: Speechless. What does a rational adult say to a passionate child in such matters? It is dark, we are in a very busy congested area. We can’t get out of the car and go look for this man, and I am left having to explain this dichotomy to a 5 year old who knows that God goes out to find lost things.

After this whole experience, I am reminded how much our children want to help those in need and how we rarely have opportunities as tangible as that one.  So, this week, I am praying through ways that we can be intentional about helping the truly poor in our area. Even if we just buy a bag of apples and some bottled water and go and pass them out at our local immigrant worker area.  Just a simple act.  A small way to say that you are loved and valuable.

Blessing to all those who want to be like a little child today~