Honey buns

Romans 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bible study went well tonight (I hope). I just have to share something that was so funny yet serious to us girls. One of the girls in my group is on a mission trip in another part of the world (wink, wink) and when we gathered tonight I asked my friend Virginia if she had heard from our girl. She said yes and then I proceeded to ask her something that was very important to our friend...did her flat iron work??. I then hold my breath and wait. Yes, we think so. My friend, like me has to get her daily portion of hair mercies with the gracious gift of Chi. We really were born for such a time as this! We discussed it before she left and she told me that she may get it thermally straightened while she was over there since she heard it was cheaper if the power adapter didn't work with her Chi. Smart girl! Hey, a girl can look good and serve the Lord to.

Back to the point of my post. I have not covered much of my childhood on my blog for many reasons, one being that I have forgiven the things that have happened to me and I don't want to dishonor anyone. I just really feel led to share a quick story. I have been reading "The New Dare to Discipline" by Dr. James Dobson and it brought back some vivid memories for me tonight. I have shared that my biological dad was never in the picture past the age of three and I was adopted by my moms second husband at the age of seven. Anyway, I had to grow up very fast and I also endured abuse for most of my childhood and on into my adult years. I took on a very parental role and I never wanted to be a burden to my family. I wouldn't ask for much of anything as the financial pressures were great I am sure with five kids. Sometimes, I went to school without lunch and would sit, embarrassed while the other kids ate. I didn't have much of a social life either, as far as spend the night parties, because I wet the bed for years as a child.
I remember my school years being pretty tough. I worked hard a made good grades. I wanted to please my parents in any way that I could. I can still remember my third grade year like it was yesterday. My teacher didn't like me...I remember that much. Anyway, each day we had snack time and each day I had no snack. There was a sweet girl named Tiffany that would give me half of her honey bun every day. I know I must have seemed like a beggar but I can still hear the growl of my stomach as everyone pulled out their snacks...everyone but me. Then all through junior high and high school my childhood friend would share her peanut butter and jelly sandwich and pretzels with me. That food never tasted better. Her mom even started making me a little lunch that she brought for me to school. My first job was at K-Mart and I worked almost a full work week (30 something hours), went to school, and ran cross-country and track. I worked so hard to pay for my own car and I can remember going most of the day without eating and then scraping up enough money for me to buy a fountain drink and maybe some candy (back when gas was .99 cents a gallon and I thought that was expensive). I am going to encourage Morgan when she starts school to look for other kids who may be in need and for her to reach out and share in a tangible way (maybe you can talk to your kids about seeing the needs around them as well). She loves honey buns (and every time I open one for her and smell that smell I think back to Tiffany sharing her portion with me). It is about the only thing she will eat for breakfast. We were in the store yesterday and she said "honey bun momma...I'll get it" (translation: please put them in the basket). Maybe she can be the girl sharing her honey bun at snack time with someone less fortunate.
I know as a mom it is easy to get caught up and exhausted. Sometimes you may feel like giving a child a ride or a place to spend the night one night is an inconvenience but maybe you can start to see some of these things as ministry, no matter how mundane or inconvenient it feels at the time. You just never know what is going on in someones home and how desperate they may be for the love of Christ. So often we want to be "great" for the Lord, and we miss the ministry that He has for us in seeking a name for ourselves, or something that we deem more noble.

Matthew 10:42
42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."