On Thursdays, we get up early for supplemental groceries for our family. This morning, my daughter got up bright-eyed and smiling. She cheerfully got into the car and we drove to the pick-up location. There were already 80+ cars ahead of us, even though we were 30 minutes early.
The warm weather vanished for a time, with snow back on the ground and very icy cold winds. Thankfully the car was nice and warm and my daughter and I had great conversations.
She enjoyed her mp3 player and head-phones as she drew a thank you card for one of the generous servants, who were out in the cold in the service of others.
As You Walk Along the Road
Our discussion was about Deuteronomy 6, where the Most High commands parents to "teach them to your children", specifically "when they lie down and when they rise up". My daughter very insightfully offered the interpretation, that God is commanding parents to "not allow children to determine their own right and wrong, but parents much teach right from wrong". I was very impressed with this answer. I felt obligated to include that children have to be convicted over right and wrong, not only adopt the parent's philosophy, but accept the philosophy for themselves.
Receiving and Giving with Humility
I was talking about how I wished Forgotten Harvest would give us EVEN number of things, so we can evenly divide between our family and another family we're picking up for. I was thinking about whenever we get a single indivisible item, we have to choose: do we keep it or do we give it?
The verse "freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8) comes to mind and I often want to give it away, but sometimes we "adjudicate" items for our family, not for the purpose of our benefit, but for practicality. But I'd rather not: if we're picking up for two families, "please give even numbers".
I do not want to express ungratefulness or entitlement, by insisting we should be given more. We're grateful for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. And I want to make this clear to my daughter, that wishing for even numbers is not an expression of ungratefulness, but practicality.
For example, we received one frozen cheese pizza (yum!) and as we were about to drive off, I asked (I hardly EVER do this) for a second pizza, because we're picking up for two families. She cheerfully went back and got TWO more pizzas and put them in the car and cheerfully said "here you go". Wow, thank you! Except now we have THREE pizzas and still can't split evenly.
When we dropped the groceries off at the home of the other family, I sent a message apologizing that a few items were not exactly split 50/50. She said that because we waited in line and delivered to their door, we shouldn't worry about that and do not apologize. She was expressing gratefulness, not only for the groceries, but also for delivery to her door.
So grateful for time with my daughter and the opportunity for her to experience gratefulness, both from the one who receives and from the one who gives.
Bless the Most High!

Benjamin Turner: God fearer. Rooted in Messiah. Husband of @lturner. Father of SEVEN wonderful children. The guy behind the camera. Blockchain enthusiast.
Bless the Most High!