Ripple Effects

This last week I had a very full week.  It was a good kind of full.  I have been working at the kids' school and I love being involved in the community there.  Besides working, I also was volunteering with an event through the school and the combination of all those hours had me at school every day all day.  By the time we got up on Saturday morning, the laundry pile was threatening to take over the house and some people were having to make big decisions about which pair of second rate underwear to put on for the day. I hadn't been to the grocery store and meal options were very limited.  I was getting frozen berries from the back of the freezer so that people could have fruit with their breakfast and I made a comment about how I needed to go to the grocery store because we were almost completely out of food.
My youngest looked at me and said, "Oh, it's okay Mama!  If we run out of food I can just tell my teacher that we don't have food.  She gives people food who don't have enough food.  Really she does!"
I know she does.  I have helped with this program.  At our school families can sign up to get some basic pantry items sent home every Friday.  The kids receive a loaf of bread and some sandwich making supplies along with some canned goods. I've been involved with helping to distribute the right numbers of these little food packages to the classrooms.
Sometimes I've wondered if any of the kids feel ashamed of taking food home from school.  I have wondered if they feel labeled.
But then a simple comment made me realize something.  Even though my kids don't receive a package of food every Friday, seeing this happen gives them something too.
My kids are seeing that we live in a community that takes care of its people.  Even though we aren't in danger of actually running out of food, my kiddo isn't afraid if we do, because the safety net of his community is wide and strong.

I think that grace, and forgiveness, accommodation, understanding and love work in much the same way.  Even though the package may be handed it one direction, it gives joy and hope and security to the community as a whole.  How are you feeding your community?