There is no doubt that we live in a land of plenty, simply look to the curb on trash day.  Today was trash day in our neighborhood and on the way to the office I saw small appliances, boxes for new TV’s, and old furniture.  In about a month the curbs will be lined with boxes and packaging from all sorts of new items.

Yesterday I wrote about our effort to purge excess items from our home.  It is amazing how quickly we went from rattling around in our new home to having all the storage space filled.  Our main motivation is simplification.  Everyone knows that a simplified life is a budget friendly life.  When we sell items we also keep in mind that there are others who need help.

For the last few weeks I have been studying with my Bible class what the Bible has to say about the poor.  I have been blessed by our teenagers to hear their perspective on why people are poor.  They recognize at their young age that financial hardship can impact anyone.  They listed off job loss, medical bills, family tragedy, and under education as some factors that contribute to financial need.  Their perspective was refreshing in comparison to many adults who I hear deriding the poor for being “lazy” and “moochers.”  There are some who choose to be poor but those few should not impact our view of the many who have encountered life-changing events.

Throughout the entire Bible are clear messages that we are supposed to help.  You could read about the provisions made under the law in the time when Ruth lived that required farmers to leave a percentage of their crop in the field for foreigners and the poor.  Jesus Christ warned often about becoming too comfortable in life and the need to help those who are without.

I look at the curbs in my neighborhood and I see overflowing resources.  We sometimes have so many things we are willing just to set them on the curb for trash pickup.  I look at the curbs not too far from our church building and I see people who are wondering where their next meal will come from.  There are a lot of lessons from the curb to be learned.

A big part of Thanksgiving and Christmas for our family and church is giving.  Here are some things we do in an effort to help out.  I would love to hear your ideas in the comments below:

• Meet the needs of an established charitable organization.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.  Supporting established and reputable charitable organizations in their efforts is one of the most effective ways to help.  Our congregation collects food and personal items for children’s homes throughout the year.  Having been to most of the children’s homes we support, it is clear they are filled with good people striving earnestly to help children who have for the most part been abandoned by their families.  As a congregation we also participate in various efforts throughout the year to help some of our local homeless shelters with food, blankets, personal items, and winter gear.  They efficiently and effectively make sure that these items are put to good use.
• Create a culture of giving among your children.  I very much appreciate the efforts of many of the parents of our daughter’s friends.  Our daughter followed the example of a girl a few years older who requested birthday party guests to bring canned food items for donation instead of birthday presents.  Other parents encourage their elementary age children to sort through their toys and gather up the ones they are done playing with for sharing with friends and donation.  When parents work together to promote a heart of giving the community benefits greatly.
• Pass unused items along.  I can’t tell you how much we have been blessed by friends who give us hand-me-down clothing from their children.  Our girls are at the age where clothes rarely get worn out and fashion trends haven’t taken hold yet.  We in turn carefully organize clothes and pass them on to others as a blessing.  We try to do the same thing with small appliances, furniture and other items that might be useful.  In some areas Freecycle.org can help put you in contact with a ‘neighbor’ who could use an item you are finished with.
• Cash is key for charitable groups.  Many times we are hesitant to hand our cash over to charitable groups, but it is perhaps the most needed resource.  I have been at disaster relief sites and have seen pallets upon pallets of water, clothes, and food.  More than any one area could ever absorb or process.  Their greatest need was cash to buy tools, building supplies, and other specific items.  Charitable organizations need cash.  They appreciate the donation of physical items but there are some things that only cash can buy.

I hope this Thanksgiving is one where you pause and give thanks for the abundant blessings we have in life.  It is my hope that we will all find a way to reach out and lend a helping hand to those who might be in need during this holiday season.

Family Worship Series

This week the timeline of the Old Testament takes us to the death of King Ahab.  Don’t worry parents of younger children.  You can read most of 1 Kings 22 and summarize a few verses from 29-40 and keep it friendly for younger ears and minds.  Week 48 – King Ahab Dies