Nomads

Since we've begun our second official year of our homeschooling experiment, schoolwork and planning have taken up a good chunk of our time.  I always second guess myself, and wonder exactly how much the kids are actually retaining anyway.  I was reassured today when the kids were pretending their Skylanders were nomads.  To be sure, these nomads also had their own pirate ships.  But they ate all the right foods and had the right kind of shelter otherwise.  And if you're a nomad by the sea, a pirate ship would be a handy thing to have.

Our discussion of nomads made me think of a person the kids and I passed in our van the other day.  This person was young, and was holding a sign that said, "Travelling. Broke. Hungry."  She was kind of a modern day nomad-wandering around, not really sure where her next meal was coming from.

My kids had just been whining about not being allowed to have donuts when we passed this young woman.  They wanted to know what she was doing, so I told them.  We talked about being grateful for the things we have, and showing God's love to other people in ways that were helpful to them.  And do you know what?  The whining about the donuts stopped.  For a little while, at least,  they got it.  They got that even though they weren't getting everything they wanted, they weren't hungry.  And that even though our home wasn't big and fancy, it was home.  And they wanted to help.  So we talked about ways to do that, too.

I am sure that this moment is not as burned on the children's brain as it is on mine.  But it made all of the things we talk about at home, gratitude, serving others, demonstrating love and respect, tangible to them.   I've thought about that young woman many times.  I pray for her safety, and that she will find a home full of love and enough to eat.  I pray that my family is always tender toward those in need.  And that we live lives of gratitude.