by: Kathy Rodgers

How many times in the last year have you actually sat down with pen in hand and listed the things you are thankful for?  If you really took the time and listed them ALL, it would likely take up more than a page or two. There are people that we come in contact with on a daily basis that would not be able to fill up even half of a page.  We may or may not be aware of their circumstances, but if we do, do we take the time to help them? For some of us, we are biased and think “they got themselves in this situation, let them get out of it themselves”. For others of us, we think, “if I help them, they will keep coming back for more”, or better yet, some of us just say “I don’t have the time or the money for this”.

Reality Check

Let me venture to say that for most of the people who are reading this, your basic needs are being met. Food, shelter, water, clothing, and warmth. But for some people that I come in contact with on a daily basis, these needs are not being met, and they are small elementary school children. Yes, local 4 to 10-year-old children.  Some people can turn the other way or look past them and just go about their daily business like it doesn’t exist. That doesn’t change the facts.

These are children who leave school on Friday and may not get a meal until they arrive back for school on Monday and eat breakfast.  Seriously, would you want that for yourself or your child? Our school is fortunate enough to work with a local church who provides Backpacks of Hope. They are bags of goods that qualified children are able to take home with them on Fridays with easy to fix goods inside to eat over the weekend.

This helps to offset the hunger some of these children have but what about holidays and the summer? We have nothing to offer them to take home for such a lengthy time.  They have to depend on other outside sources. These sweet children are helpless and did not ask to be in such a situation. We need to get out of our comfort zone and help. Be proactive and search for ways to help them.

Call to Action

Another way to help is to take an evening or holiday and share it at a shelter or food kitchen.  Take your children and expose them to others who are less fortunate. Allow them to help serve in a food pantry or buy Christmas for a needy child.  Allow them to make friends with these children who are less fortunate. Let them interact with the homeless, allowing them to experience the humanity of these people.

Such things will not only open their eyes to the good fortune they have been blessed with, but it will also begin to grow a compassionate heart in them for those who are less fortunate. We often think our children are too young to be exposed to such things but I have found they can process these things and deal with them so much easier than us as adults.  In turn, they will grow up to be adults that are not prejudiced against the poor or homeless.

Love on Your Community

Take the time to look around today for someone in need and go out of your comfort zone and help. As a friend of mine says, “Be blessed, Be a blessing! If you are interested in helping people around you, I encourage you to find organizations in your area and get plugged in!

Here are some local resources for anyone in need in the Lyman/Duncan SC area! Also, here is my first list of blessings that I am thankful for this year!

https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/serve/local-missions/spihn

https://www.middletyger.org/