Compassion,  Family Happenings,  Parenting/Children,  Salvation,  Special Services

A Pocket Full Of Bread

This month, it is our familyā€™s turn to help out in our churchā€™s ā€œKingā€™s Kidsā€ ministry. As the girls and I were preparing food and serving the 80 children who rode the buses and vans last night, I had an interestingĀ incident that I thought I would share. I was standing at one of the tables and giving out seconds of sandwiches and cheese balls when one of the girls looked at me and said:

ā€œHe put his sandwich in his pocket!ā€

As I turned and looked at the boy next to her who was smiling, the rest of the conversation went something like this:

ME ā€“ ā€œDid you put your sandwich in your pocket?ā€

BOY ā€“ ā€œNoā€¦HE did!ā€ (pointing in the direction behind me)

I turned to see a little boy whose food was all gone and his hand raised for seconds. I walked over to question him:

ME ā€“ ā€œDid you put your sandwich in your pocket?ā€

LITTLE BOY ā€“ ā€œNoā€ (looking rather guilty)

ME ā€“ ā€œShow me whatā€™s in your pocketsā€

LITTLE BOY ā€“ (reaching into his empty left pocket)

ME ā€“ ā€œShow me your other pocketā€¦ā€

LITTLE BOY ā€“ ā€œThatā€™sā€¦thatā€™s my OTHER piece of bread and itā€™sā€¦itā€™s BAD!ā€

pocket

As I looked at his little face, my ā€œinvestigator modeā€ disappeared. You see, I remember when this little fella began riding one of our vans. I remember, way back when, seeing a frightenedā€¦nervous little guy who literally shrunk back when spoken to. But, in recent months, Iā€™ve seen this same little boyā€™s countenance and demeanor change completely. Iā€™ve seen him go from sitting slouched down at the table ā€“ food untouched ā€“ to sitting up on his knees and raising his hand for ā€œanother sandwichā€ or ā€œmore cheese ballsā€. Iā€™ve witnessed a big olā€™ grin on his face that I truly believe isĀ a result of the love and acceptance he has received at Kingā€™s Kids.

ā€œOKā€, I said to himā€¦and as I walked away I wondered just what he was going to do with that piece of bread. I had no idea. Call me soft, but I just couldnā€™t ask him to give it to me.

Later on, that little boy would go into his classroomā€¦bread in his pocketā€¦and hear the Gospel preached once again. I thank the Lord for the privilege to be part of a church that not only gives these children bread to eat but most of all tells them of the Bread of Life!!

Having raised three of our own, I know first-hand the interesting thingsĀ with whichĀ little boys willĀ fill their pockets. From rocks to old keys to bugs toĀ bent nailsā€¦itā€™s no telling the ā€œtreasuresā€ one may find. But, that little guy last night? To me, he will be known as the little boy with a pocket full of bread.

ā€œAnd Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.ā€ John 6:35Ā 

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