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Welcome to the KingZoo and Funny Farm, where we learn to live, laugh, and love together. Here you'll find snippets of life in our zoo, parenting tips we've learned along the way, reflections on shining God's light in this world, passions in the realm of orphan care, and our journey as parents of a visually impaired child with sensory processing disorder. Have fun!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Goodie bags

Recently, I was driving through an urban area with Eden and HopeAnne. Stopped at a traffic light, a homeless person crossed the street in front of us, pushing a grocery cart. We talked about what it meant to be homeless, what items might be contained in that cart, and why a person might be homeless. I told the girls that I know someone who keeps goodie bags filled with hygiene products and snacks in her car. Whenever she sees a homeless person, she stops and hands out one of her goodie bags. That's all Eden needed to hear.

"Mom, I think that's what I want to do with the money from PopPop and MomMom."

Uh-oh. This one is way out of my comfort zone. But it's her money and she was told to use it for anyone but herself. But this means that someone will have to go with her. And what if we can't find any homeless people?  Good try, but you just saw one. But that could be dangerous. Maybe. But you're the one who's always preaching that we should go out of our comfort zones, step out of the boat, care for the least of these. I meant orphans, cute little babies you can feed, and comfort, and cuddle. Well, wouldn't the homeless fall under some type of orphan category? This was the argument going through my mind in the seconds before saying, "Sure, that's a great idea."

When we got home, she made her list. We went online and found some other ideas. She added to her list.

We went shopping.

She organized and filled bags. She made cards.


We prayed over those bags and their recipients.

And then yesterday, Eden, Mariana, and the Good Doctor took a little trip into the city.  First they found Don, the homeless man Mariana has come to know as she goes to and from her arts school every day (and yes, when she first told me about the man for whom she bought a bagel, I was a little concerned, until I remembered this is what we've raised her to do). They chatted, they handed him a bag, he thanked them over and over.  And then Eden said, "Can I pray for you?" He agreed and so right there, she prayed for him.

This is what happens when you teach your children to love with a Crazy Love, to act radically, and to love the least of these. This is living purposefully. This is letting God's light shine through you; following the nudge. This is being the hands and feet of Jesus, in the body of a 9 year old.

5 comments:

  1. This was a perfect Slice to start my day. What a compassionate and kind act. I loved where you wrote: I was a little concerned, until I remembered this is what we've raised her to do. That's really it, isn't it? Seeing them live our teachings?

    Have a wonderful day.

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  2. What a compassionate daughter you've raised. Sometimes it is scary to let them do what we've raised them to do. I know my daughter has pushed me outside of my comfort zone before. Thank you for writing such an inspiring slice today.

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  3. I sooo LOVE this story! Thank you for sharing and THANKS to Miss Eden for her thoughtfulness and giving nature. By the way, you have prompted me to do the same thing but my bags will be smaller as I will be using travel size items due to being unemployed and no longer receiving unemployment insurance. People may ask why I would do this if I don't have any income coming in and I will tell them that God provides during all times, and my faith is in HIM!!  Keep up the wonderful and inspirational blogs about your amazing family! !

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  4. What a testament to your PARENTING that he is such a caring individual at such as tender age. Letting them DO what we WANT them to DO is ALWAYS scary...but the rewards are endless.

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  5. Beautiful.
    I love this story, sweet blessings all around

    erika

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