Last night, the kids and I along with three other families served food at a soup kitchen. This was my first time to do this. It makes you really appreciate what you have. My heart was breaking watching the families, elderly men and single women and men come through the line. There was one family that had six or seven kids.
I was so very proud of all of our kids for their compassion and hard work. Each of them went out of their way to be gracious and caring to each person who came through the line. I could see their hearts opening up to these less fortunate people. Plus, they prepared food, scrubbed tables, cleared trays, put chairs up on tables when we were all done serving, rolled silverware in napkinsfor the next meal, etc. And they did it with enthusiasm and with no complaining. ( How come that never happens around here when their doing their chores? hehe).
As I stood behind the table with my eight year old serving drinks, my heart ached for the circumstances these people are faced with. I could see the sadness in their eyes. We served chocolate and white milk along with water. Their eyes lit up when they saw the pitcher of chocolate milk which we ran out of quickly. I felt awful when people, especially the young children, would come back for more and we had to tell them we were all out. Their mouths immediately began to frown and some would walk back to their tables with their heads down. If I would have know this was such a treat, I would have stopped at the store on my way and picked up more. The simplest things, the things we take for granted, are special treats to them.
It made me really think after my visit there. It made me want to do more. Most of these people were so thankful. One young man thanked every helper has he walked out the door.
As we left, feeling sad because of their circumstances but feeling some happiness because in a small way, we curved their hunger and brought smiles to their faces for a short time. Then has we walked out the door and all of our cars were sitting there together: an Audi, a Land Rover, a Cadillac SUV and a Land Cruiser. I felt guilty... guilty for spending so much money on a car. When I thought of the amount of money that was sitting there in cars, in just the four of them and then looking back at some of the families still sitting outside talking amongst themselves with their tattered, dirty clothes and torn shoes and watching the family with the many kids pile in a small, rusted van, it just tugged at my heart. It made me feel very appreciative for the privileged life I live, that so many of us live and we don't even realize it. So no more complaining about not having a big enough mud room or wanting a bigger master closet and bathroom, or wanting new furniture and everything else I have been complaining about to my husband (well let's be realistic here, at least not for a while anyway). It was all very humbling.
The Fat Hen {A Charming Cafe}
1 hour ago
