"Let's Give Him a Blanket!"

Response #1 to a challenge Johanna gave to Mothers of Preschoolers Each family was given a McDonald's gift certificate and challenged to find a way to reach out and serve their community together as a family.

Dear Johanna,

Thank you for speaking at MOPS this morning. You really inspired me to teach my kids more about compassion and giving to those less fortunate. Here is our McDonald’s coupon story (it has some coincidences and surprises)…

After MOPS, I was very excited to tell my five year old son about the McDonald’s coupon, what we were going to do with it, and why. We said a prayer in the car and asked God to show us the person whom he wanted us to help. We didn’t see anyone on the way to school. In the evening, I picked up my son from a playdate at his friend’s house. My son asked if I had seen anyone who needed the coupon during the day. I said “no” and that I was hoping he (my son) would be with me when we found that special person. My son promptly said that we should say another prayer. Not even 10 seconds passed when to our surprise, we saw a homeless gentleman at the stoplight. I rolled down my son’s window and he gave the man the McDonald’s coupon, along with two coupons for a free banana and apple from Albertsons. The man immediately said “Oh food! Thank you. God bless you!” We said “God Bless” and we were off.

On the way home, I told my son how proud I was, and how proud God was, and how proud daddy would be of his caring and wanting to help someone. I explained that the man had nowhere to live and nowhere to eat, so it was very special that we helped him tonight. Immediately, my son replied “if he has nowhere to sleep, I want to give him a big box!” I responded, “we don’t have a big box, honey.” My son replied, “let’s give him a BLANKET!” (Whoa! Can you only imagine what went through my mind at that moment?! Your story of the 11 year old boy today left a strong impression on me.)

We were almost home and it was already dark. My son pleaded in the car, “let’s give him a blanket AND MY NEW PILLOW!!!” (Again, your stories resonated in me.) It was 7:30pm, my younger one needed to get to sleep, and I was torn. BUT, I felt this was too much of a coincidence to let go of it. I felt we were called to do this.

We pulled into the garage, my son RAN upstairs to grab his pillow and I quickly grabbed the blanket. We ran back downstairs, hopped into the car and we were off—again.

My son and I said a prayer that we would find the man. The red lights seemed to take forever. Patience… We finally arrived back at the stoplight where we had first seen the man and saw that his backpack was still there. We were so excited! We also noticed that the man was in the adjacent parking lot, which would be a lot easier for us to give him our “gifts.”

When we pulled into the parking lot, the man was speaking to a police officer. We motioned to the officer to come over to our car so that we could ask him a question. We explained that we had brought a pillow and blanket for the gentleman. My son could hardly contain his excitement. The officer stated that the gentleman was panhandling, which is illegal in Costa Mesa, and that we could not give him the items we had brought for him. We asked in several polite ways if the officer would be willing to give the items to the gentleman on our behalf, but the officer said “no.” He also said, “You don’t know if this guy is on drugs. Didn’t you hear about the girl in Los Angeles who got her leg slit trying to help a homeless person? If you really want to help, take your donations to a homeless shelter.” “Where is the closest one, officer?” “Well, that’s the problem, there are none in Costa Mesa.”

Deflated, I didn’t know what to do next. My son did not really hear, nor did he understand the full scope of my discussion with the officer. I was confused about how to explain to my son why the police officer would not allow us to help the gentleman. My son was getting upset that he still had the pillow and blanket in his hand. He begged me louder and louder to speak to the policeman and to go give the pillow and blanket to the gentleman.

I turned around to pull out of the parking lot. I also noticed at that point that the police officer had driven away.

Now bear with me here…

I saw the man, rolled down my window and motioned to him to come to the other corner where we were exiting. By the time he walked over to our corner, the police officer had turned around and was now two cars behind us. So, I told him to meet us at the next corner.

My son was so elated to be helping. I was as nervous as could be because I have never gone against authority. My son sensed my nervousness. I just explained to him that the police officer said we should donate our things to a shelter, but inside, I was very nervous. Could he sense that I was disrespecting authority?

We got to the next corner and pulled into the parking lot. We didn’t see the man anymore. So, I turned around to leave. Just as we were leaving, the man turned the corner. There he was!!! My son was so excited, he was THRILLED!!! So, I hurriedly honked the horn to signal the man and my son gave him the pillow and blanket. The man could not believe that we had brought him a pillow. The man was so happy.

And, just at that moment, the police officer was turning the corner. Thank heavens, he kept driving. Maybe he saw us, maybe he did not. All I know is that he kept driving. Inside, I was anxious to just get home. I quickly rolled up with the window and exclaimed “good night!”

My son was so happy about what had taken place. Then, he asked if I was rushing to get home. I told a white lie to my son. I said, “I am driving home quickly so that we can get your little sister to bed because she is tired.” My son is too smart and replied, “no she is not!” (Actually, it really was past her bedtime.)

The rest of the way home, I explained to my son that the police officer suggested that a better way to help the homeless would be to donate goods to shelters and to assist in feeding them. (This wasn’t a lie. I just tried to avoid the fact that we had disrespected the officer’s wishes. I didn’t think about explaining to my son that we have to help in ways that respect the law. I also didn’t think at that moment to explain to my son that the officer was concerned for our safety. I am embarrassed to admit that I got caught up in the moment, had lost my common sense for a few minutes, and should not have gone to a less occupied parking lot with two young children at night. That said, God looked over us during those few moments in the parking lot.)

Back to the conversation about the officer’s suggestion… My son was extremely intrigued to help feed the homeless. He said he wanted to do it! I was one proud mama (even if I still felt an ulcer from the preceding 10 or 15 minutes)!

Quite an evening it was for us, and certainly unexpected. Now, I just want to do more, in a law-abiding and safe way. Didn’t you mention that there is something at the church on Thursday nights? Could we get more information?

Thank you again, Johanna, for the challenge.

Most Respectfully,
A MOPS Mom

Community Outreach

I have been challenged as a long time believer to become more involved in my local community doing outreach. It is time to do more than just $$ so now I am looking for places to “get down and dirty” for the kingdom of God. My employee Dyana, and I will be working around our community a couple hours at a time twice a month. We will keep you posted as to what is happening in our lives as a result and what amazing things we encounter being done in our community by others.
Yesterday I spoke at a local MOPS group about Teaching Preschoolers to Serve and had the most amazing input. I challenged all the preschool mothers that were there to take one of the $1 McDonald’s coupons I had brought and handed out to each willing to take the challenge. The stories of what happens when their families reach out to someone offering a food coupon will be posted as I get them but here is an amazing story I heard around our small group table:

A young man we will call Josh noticed a homeless young person sitting outside the Target store he was entering. He felt led to approach this young man and asked if there was anything he could get for him in the store. The young person, I will call Eric, said he needed socks so Josh purchased a package of socks and handed them to him as he left the store. He struck up a conversation with Eric and learned that because of drug abuse and disruptive and destructive behavior his family asked him to leave home over 3 years before. While on the streets he had been placed in rehab and was now drug free but was too embarrassed to go home because of his past behavior and the fear of not being welcomed. Josh was so touched by the story he asked Eric to get into his car and began driving to the airport. There he bought him a ticket home and convinced the airport security that Eric, who had no ID, should be allowed to go. As they waved goodbye at the security checkpoint Josh gave Eric his phone number and told him he expected a phone call letting him know he had safely arrived. 4 hours later he received a call and on the other end of the line was a sobbing mother thanking him for returning her son that they had been trying to find for the last few years.

How great is our God. Everyone can have stories just like this. Let me know how you have been used in ways to help the less fortunate. Nothing happens by coincidence and if we are open to the leading of God’s Spirit to direct us to where the needs are and follow by responding He will be entrust us with even more ministry opportunities in His kingdom.
I can’t wait to hear the stories and to post them if you will allow.

Realtime Parenting

Dr. Mary Manz Simon has a new Day Brightener Calendar titled Realtime Parenting: Tips and Encouragement for Today's Busy Moms. Each day has fun parenting ideas or advice with scripture. Great thoughts from someone with experience, wisdom and a focus on what really is important!

Compass

Compass: A Guide for Character and Spiritual Formation in Children is a new book written by Vernie Schorr, president of "Character Choice." In it, she goes into detail about why, what and how character is developed in children and how parents and teachers can facilitate this growth. Each chapter ends with areas of "Think on These Things" and "Practice It." Schorr really does a great job of sharing her insight and wisdom as she envisions us becoming "part of the solution, instilling roots of positive character, conscience, and conduct in the lives of children, youth, and other adults."

Christian Grants Directory Deal

Christiangrants.com has another great deal for you.

If you purchase a directory for $99 by July 10th, you will receive TWO years for the price of one! Two years of grant opportunities for only $99! What a great deal!

It's almost time!

Just a reminder...all grant applications for the Fall 2009 session are due in the FKO office on Monday July 6th! That is less than two weeks away!

Be sure to follow our guidelines and get your application in on time. We look forward to what new and exciting programs are coming our way this fall!

Parents Responsible for First Impressions of God

"There are no teachers so effective for good or evil as parents." William Barclay

In an article by Brenda Nixon from Enrichment magazine, she lists 9 "Must Do's" for parents to incorporate in their daily activities.

1. Teach about God as commanded in Deuteronomy 6.


2. Daily impress spiritual truths and weed spiritual lessons into conversations and activities you are doing with your children.


3. Openly thank God for blessings and what he has created.


4. Read the bible and pray where your kids can see you.


5. Say grace before meals.


6. Place reminders of faith such as bibles and pictures of Jesus around the house.


7. Place scriptures on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror and car visor.


8. Fellowship with other Christian families in your church for it reminds your kids that you value a faith community.


9. It is up to you to create a thirst for God. This is up to you and you don't have to be spiritually perfect yourself to be an equipper.