This past Sunday we had church, as always, then a lunch meeting kicking off our Mexico mission trip. Later that afternoon several of us Grandview people went to Carter's Kids to eat ice cream and hang out with the kids there. Carter's Kids is a home for boys who are wards of the state. They are too "bad" to be in foster care but not "bad" enough for prison. We brought gallons of Blue Bell and so many toppings their eyes lit up. No little cup of ice cream with a wooden spoon for these guys. They piled it high and even went back for seconds (and thirds). It was so fun to watch!
The director of the organization told me this story as we were watching the kids play basketball with our Grandview crew...
She said three of the boys came up to her at different times and asked who we were and why we were there. They asked if we were "charity people" (Apparently "charity people" are folks the staff can call to visit with the boys from time to time.) She said, "No. They are not charity people. We did not call them to come by today." "Where are the from?" "A church",she said. One boy replied, "You mean they WANTED to come hang out with us today?" "Yes." These boys had trouble understanding that someone would CHOOSE to simply hang out with them.
Many of these kids have lived in numerous foster homes over the past few years. Made me wonder how often they feel discarded instead of wanted.
Doesn't the Bible say that we should offer a bowl of ice cream in Jesus' name? I guess it really says a cup of water (Matthew 10:42). But if Jesus were on the earth today, it just might be ice cream that He is offering. It's amazing that God can use such simple things as ice cream and just a little bit of our time to touch a life with His grace.
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