Elizabeth went with her daddy, Mr. Mawakasunga, over to Harrisburg to drop off some of the food we bring for the Food Bank every week.  You know, those baskets in the Gathering Space where folks can put a can of tuna or a jar of peanut butter.  All those cans are taken to the Food Bank in Harrisburg and then people who don’t have enough money to buy food for their family, they can go to the Food Bank and get food, so that they can cook something for their supper!

Mr. Mawakasunga parked Uncle Floyd’s truck that he borrowed right outside the Food Bank and Elizabeth helped carry in some of the bags.  First Elizabeth carried in this big bag of rice!  And her daddy carried in a box of macaroni and cheese!  This is a really nice thing to do.  Mr. Mawakasunga thought it would be a wise thing to do, to teach his daughter about helping those who are less fortunate. 

“This can of soup is really heavy!” said Elizabeth.  When they came back to the truck there were two little potatoes on the sidewalk.  Not potatoes like you would eat; they were potatoes like Polly and Haman Potato.  Only these potatoes looked really in bad shape.  They had eyes growing on them and smelled a little rotten.

“Hi!” said one of them to Elizabeth.

“Hi . . . “ said Elizabeth, sort of forcing a friendly smile and wanting to be kind.

“What’s your name?” said the other potato. 

Elizabeth stood a little closer to her daddy, and HE stood a little closer to his daughter.  “I don’t want my daughter to get any dirty germs.” thought Mr. Mawakasunga.

Elizabeth talked to the little potatoes.  It turns out their names are Taquoia and Latishia.  And they are in second grade, the same as Elizabeth! 

“Will your daddy let you play on the swings with us for a little?” said Taquoia, looking at the church playground.

All three of them looked hopefully at Mr. Mawakasunga.  Elizabeth found herself starting to like Taquoia and Latishia, even if they are a lot different from her. 

And you know, that is when it came to him.  Mr. Mawakasunga wanted his daughter to learn about HELPING those who are less fortunate by bring food to the Food Bank.  What happened was even better. Elizabeth was about to learn to be FRIENDLY with those who are less fortunate. 

Mr. Mawakasunga, a wise man, allowed Elizabeth to play with Taquoia and Latishia while he sat and watched from the bench.  The girls had a great time! 

In the lessons today there is talk about Wise Men who knew something important was about to happen, for they had studied the stars.  The Wise Men traveled far from the East and came to the house where Baby Jesus lived.  And it came to them; this is the baby who was born “The King of the Jews”!  And they were overwhelmed with joy.

We are wise when something quite different comes along, be it a star or two potatoes, and we take the time to get to know and understand what God has offered us.

Soon Taquoia and Lathishia’s mother called them from a window in the apartment next to the church playground. 

Elizabeth said to them “I hope I see you the NEXT time we come to the FOOD BANK.”  Taquoia and Latishia said “You are our new best friend!”                      THE END

Printer friendly copy of this story