Loaves and
Fishes
“Sometimes
when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways, it can change
someone else's life forever.”
Margaret
Cho
Yesterday, I received an
email from the Fellowship Chair at my church—please bring food for
the Pentecost picnic this Sunday. My very first thought was, “Not
again!” We get a similar email just about every week, which adds
one extra thing to an already busy schedule. Bring food for Greater
Birmingham Ministries food pantry. Bring food to put in snack bags
for the homeless. Give it a rest with the food, already! But then,
the thought popped into my head uninvited—“What about the loaves
and fishes?” It was one of those, “what would Jesus do” moments
that all Christians hate. Oh, no! You mean I have to share? I have to
go to the grocery store and purchase food for other people to eat? I
have to provide the loaves and fishes? Me?
Some of us are born with
a generous nature—we love to give away things. My cousin, Sandy, is
like that. She's kept me clothed for years. My dad was like that. He
once gave away a magnolia tree that was growing in the yard. My
mother knew nothing about his generous gift until the person he gave
it to was outside digging it up. I've rarely seen her so mad. For
some of us, giving stuff away is not so easy.
Luckily, generosity comes
in many forms. It's not just about giving stuff away, giving food
away, or giving money away. If you have a lot of stuff, or money, or
food, it's good to give some of it away, but if you don't there are
other ways to be generous. It's also about showing someone kindness,
expressing our belief in someone's abilities. It's about saying words
that give hope, or help, or comfort. Everyone loves to hear, “You
did a great job!” Or, “I had fun. Let's do this again.” Even
small things like, “Let me get that door for you.” Or, “Would
you like some help with that?” Or, “Thank you so very much.”
These are generous words anyone can give away.
Loaves and fishes, y'all.
Miracles for free. Meant to be shared. There are all kinds of ways to
feed people.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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