A Pocket Full Of Bread
This month, it is our family’s turn to help out in our church’s “King’s Kids” 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 interesting 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:
“He put his sandwich in his pocket!”
As I turned and looked at the boy next to her who was smiling, the rest of the conversation went something like this:
ME – “Did you put your sandwich in your pocket?”
BOY – “No…HE did!” (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 – “Did you put your sandwich in your pocket?”
LITTLE BOY – “No” (looking rather guilty)
ME – “Show me what’s in your pockets”
LITTLE BOY – (reaching into his empty left pocket)
ME – “Show me your other pocket…”
LITTLE BOY – “That’s…that’s my OTHER piece of bread and it’s…it’s BAD!”
As I looked at his little face, my “investigator mode” disappeared. You see, I remember when this little fella began riding one of our vans. I remember, way back when, seeing a frightened…nervous little guy who literally shrunk back when spoken to. But, in recent months, I’ve seen this same little boy’s countenance and demeanor change completely. I’ve seen him go from sitting slouched down at the table – food untouched – to sitting up on his knees and raising his hand for “another sandwich” or “more cheese balls”. I’ve witnessed a big ol’ grin on his face that I truly believe is a result of the love and acceptance he has received at King’s Kids.
“OK”, I said to him…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 couldn’t ask him to give it to me.
Later on, that little boy would go into his classroom…bread in his pocket…and hear the Gospel preached once again. I thank the Lord for the privilege to be part of a church who 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 things with which little boys will fill their pockets. From rocks to old keys to bugs to bent nails…it’s no telling the “treasures” 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.
“And 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.” John 6:35