M is for More {Blogging through the Alphabet}

MORE

~in greater quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number; additional or further.

This whole blogging through the alphabet sure has a way of making me think about things more deeply than usual {the pun wasn't intended but I wholly endorse it!}. While I'm not doing word studies like Marcy is at Ben and Me, I still find myself studying the word I choose, and trying to put it into my life.

Our family went camping last week at a wonderful camping spot. It's the exact same one that we went to the year before- on the same dates. This year was a bit chillier than last year; okay, fine a lot more so. We still enjoyed our time immensely. We want more time there next year. 

As a family, and individually, we are so blessed with all that we need and so much that we want. Very rarely do we find that we need something, and only occasionally do we want more than what we have. {I am referring to myself and my husband; our kids still have many wants, I'm sure.} We don't however have so much that we can just dish out things to others on a consistent basis- unless of course we were to give up our own things. That's what the 'more' of this post got me thinking about.

We don't have a lot of money, but we are not in poverty. But we have more than others in some cases. Personally, I don't see the benefit of giving to others to the point that a person is in need themselves. That is radical, that's for sure, and I'm not a proponent of that. Don't get me wrong; I won't not help someone just because I wouldn't have something as a result. But I won't give someone else all of something we have that we need, so that they will no longer be in need. We would then be in need and not able to help others. Does that make sense? 

We are to be good stewards of all that God has given us. If He leads us to give it away, then that is what He meant for it in the first place. 

I do have time and enough resources to help a person or two here and there. My first thought was that I want to help a family, most likely a single-parent, with childcare. How wonderful would it be for them to be able to take their children to a safe and decent home that would provide warmth and good food for their children while they worked? And at the same time be able to put the money that would normally go to the sitter towards their bills; towards a better place to live or for more groceries, or clothes if needed? 

I thought about this while we were camping. I thought about it a lot. I didn't think about the possible kinks in my plan. Would I need insurance? What if they were to take advantage of the situation and leave their kids with me while they went off for the day, not working? How long would I agree to watch their children for so that they could get their feet under them? A lot of questions I really didn't think about. 

I'm still thinking about it, though. I recall being in a similar situation when my kids were very young. I was very fortunate that my mother was there to help me. If not for her, I'm not sure how things would have gone. There are scary people out there who 'care' for kids just for the money; disregard for the child as a person. 

Anyway, my point is- I can do more than just give money to someone. I can give my time and resources. I had a friend point out the points I'd not thought of in terms of the hazards of providing care for someone else's child. She also suggested other ways to give: Helping others to learn to garden; helping others to make healthy economical meals; or tutoring others who are studying for GED.  Another friend suggested driving people to medical appointments or grocery shopping.

All great ideas! And I am going to look into them more. 

I will say though, that it is out of my comfort zone. Majorly. It would be so much easier to give a person some money than to take the time and effort to do any of the other things listed. I am an introvert. I like people but I have a difficult time around people. If that makes enough sense. 

But I want to help. And so I am going to be searching out more ways that I can be of help to others with my time and resources. The first step, though, is to pray.

This is my M is for M... blogging through the alphabet post. See others at Ben and Me, or simply search abcblogging on the web.