These are hard times for many.  Many have died.  Many are sick.  Many are hungry.  Unemployed parents can’t afford to buy food.  Farmers produce food but getting it to the public a challenge.  It’s a big vicious circle.   I think about the children.  How is this affecting them?

I had a wonderful childhood growing up in south Texas.  My father and mother were loving parents who would do anything to nurture our family.  I was fortunate enough to have my grandparents living right next door.  How ideal is that?  Grandma and Papa were my ‘second set of parents’ and I lacked for nothing.  This worked to my advantage when Mom or Dad disciplined me (except when I was grounded to my room).  My Dad was an electrician by trade and worked multiple jobs, mostly in new construction.  There were times when work wasn’t available and he took on other activities to support our family.  As a child I did not understand the gravity of the situation.  All I knew was that Daddy did a lot of different things and sometimes had to go out of state to where electrical work was available.  I never had the impression that we were ‘hard up’ for food or any other commodity.  I was a child living a carefree life with a loving family.

As an adult looking back I now see the hardships that my parents went through to keep the family fed and clothed.  I should have seen it then.  All the signs were there.  Like the time my grandmother told us kids that if we didn’t get enough to eat at home that we could always come to their house and eat more.  Or the fact that often mother obviously didn’t have enough to feed us and would make a game out of lunch by holding ‘special picnics’ consisting of cereal.  Somehow though, yucky vegetables were always on the table.  Why is it that the yucky stuff was so plentiful?

I grew up and turned out ok.  At least I think I did (there may be those who think differently). I wonder if the children of today will look back at their childhood and remember hard times or will they be oblivious to the hardships of today’s world.  Will they see that our God loves them and will always be watching out for them and provide them with what they need?   It is in times like this that you and I can make a difference and be the ‘grandparents next door’.  An easy start is by donating food to local food banks, helping out a needy family, or even putting some of our stimulus money in the Pastor’s discretionary fund.  Remember God loves you and me unconditionally.  Pass it forward.

Marge