Two events in my childhood make me remember the sprit of giving in the holiday season. It also reminds me of how fortunate we are.
During 4th and 5th grade in my Sunday School class, we would collect food for needy families. Then during a certain Saturday we would deliver the food to families in the area. Afterwards we were treated to a free meal at Staggs’ Pharmacy. Strangly enough I don’t remember too much about the families we delivered to.
At the time my church had about 300 members, so sitting a large cylinder for food collection outside in the foyer wasn’t all that much trouble. Sure, it had to be emptied ever so often, but it certainly wasn’t all that big of a deal. Now the church has around 700+ members. We have our own food room year round, so the collection of food by 4th and 5th graders has somewhat lost its importance. I’m not sure which was more important.: The delivery of the food to the needy, or the lesson it taught us in collecting and distributing it. I suppose the food delivery was somewhat of a band aid remedy for the needy.
Also in 4th grade my class at school “adopted” a needy family for the holiday season. I guess it helped that the family had kids our age. Throughout the month of December we collected food and toys for the family. Then on a particular night, the entire class plus some room mothers went over to personally deliver the goods to the family. Let me tell you, it was awkward. The parents were, of course, slightly embarrassed to have to accept a handout so their kids could have a decent Christmas. Their house had no carpet and was somewhat dark inside. The father had a job which he had to walk to each day. I wonder what happened to that family. I wonder if the cycle of poverty continued with the kids, perhaps dropping out of school and having to take low end jobs. I guess I could hope they somehow got out of this depressing cycle.
Two things come to mind in remembering this. One is that families in poverty need help year round, and not just in the Christmas season when somehow we are feeling generous. Also this help shouldn’t just be a band-aid. These people need job skills. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; Teach a man to fish and he will eat forever.
The 2nd thing is that the act itself was a lesson for me at a young age. These families probably don’t remember who gave them food during December of 1984. However here it is 21 years later and I still remember the act.