Each month, on the third weekend, our church fills a trailer with non-perishable food items for our local food pantry. Open Arms Care Center is the only food bank in Gilbert, and serves people who might not have ever dreamed that they would need food assistance one day.
As much as I love this outreach program, I’ll admit that I usually forget that it’s the third weekend until we pull up and see the trailer. Every month I resolve to remember next time. Usually I forget. When I do remember, it’s usually at the last minute, and I grab whatever is lurking in the back of the pantry.
So thoughtful, aren’t I? Don’t answer that.
Our family has had extreme ups and downs financially. Jobs in baseball aren’t exactly financially secure (unless your name is Albert Pujols). We don’t own a home anymore, and most of our furniture items are hand-me-downs or treasures from Craigslist. Money is tight, but one thing we’ve never had to do is worry about putting food on the table. Even expensive gluten-free food. For that, I am incredibly thankful.
But with our food security comes responsibility. I am learning more and more about what it means to live with open arms. Wide open to receive, and wide open to give. I’m learning what it means to truly love your neighbor as yourself. Have you ever really thought about what that means?
To me, it means that if I wouldn’t buy it to feed my family, I shouldn’t be buying it to take to the food pantry. I’ll be honest and admit that I’ve done that in the past. I’d buy the “great value” peanut butter for some family at the food bank and the organic natural peanut butter for my family at home. Hmm, not exactly loving others as myself.
I’ve been thinking even more about it lately as I have to be so careful to buy gluten-free products for myself. What do families with celiac or food allergy issues do when they have to go to a food bank? Do they sacrifice their health because there are no other options? In many cases, they do.
This week, I’ll be donating some of my favorite gluten-free products in the hopes that they will bless someone who needs them. I even set an alert on my phone for Saturday morning to make sure I don’t forget this time.
A thousand apologies to the people who have eaten the crap I’ve donated in the past. I promise to do better from now on.
I have a long ways to go still as I learn to live with open arms. But it feels good to take another step in the right direction.
What are you thankful for today? Leave a comment or link up a blog post below!
Convicting… When I made the switch to eating “real” food, I donated the non-perishable processed foods that were in my pantry. It’s kinda like donating clothes I don’t like/ won’t wear. Not exactly the “best lamb in the flock” or my “firstfruits”. I appreciated your thoughts on how to love my neighbor as myself in this practical way. Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your heart. I know I needed to be reminded of this.