Our Stake welfare project is raisins. While this may seem to be a minor contribution in the scope of just what is essential in the way of life-sustaining commodities, it might do us good to consider the true value of a little dried grape.
I like to think that raisins are for children. They seem to get so much pleasure from such tiny things. Raisins are sweet, natural, high in nutrients. They are loved in cookies and other desserts but are just as delightful all by themselves. And because we go out and do a bit of pruning in the spring and harvesting in the fall, we get to be part of the process that brings them to the table of little ones all over the world.
There is something sacred and humbling in this work of the Lord. The very atmosphere out in that dirt is right up there with being in the temple. He loves His children, and He allows us to be blessed by helping to provide for those who are going through hard times.
We've gone through some hard times ourselves and have been blessed by being able to use food from the Bishop's Storehouse. One day, as I was preparing food in my kitchen, I looked over and saw printed on a label - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I read, my eyes focused on the name of the Lord, and the reality of His love being made manifest through this kind gift sank deep into my heart. He was providing temporally for our family in a very real way even though it was through the hands of many others.
When the bishop had called us in to see how we were doing and we told him we were trying our best to be self-sufficient, he asked why we hadn't been in to see him about food and the reply was that we were doing our best to provide for ourselves. He explained that sometimes part of being a good provider is to make use of the system we had been putting into for many years and that we would not be doing our best if we didn't make use of the Lord's gift. (It was true that we had spent time over the years participating in various welfare projects wherever we lived. Once David even came home green from packaging jello at the dry-pack cannery in Missouri!)
Because of the experiences we have had on a personal level with the church welfare system, I have reason to reverence the place, the time and the food itself. We enjoy fellowshipping with ward family when we go to the vineyard, but we try not to be wasteful or careless in our work. We know that these little raisins will be sent out to kitchens of God's children and that they will bear His name everywhere they go.
I like to think that raisins are for children. They seem to get so much pleasure from such tiny things. Raisins are sweet, natural, high in nutrients. They are loved in cookies and other desserts but are just as delightful all by themselves. And because we go out and do a bit of pruning in the spring and harvesting in the fall, we get to be part of the process that brings them to the table of little ones all over the world.
There is something sacred and humbling in this work of the Lord. The very atmosphere out in that dirt is right up there with being in the temple. He loves His children, and He allows us to be blessed by helping to provide for those who are going through hard times.
We've gone through some hard times ourselves and have been blessed by being able to use food from the Bishop's Storehouse. One day, as I was preparing food in my kitchen, I looked over and saw printed on a label - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I read, my eyes focused on the name of the Lord, and the reality of His love being made manifest through this kind gift sank deep into my heart. He was providing temporally for our family in a very real way even though it was through the hands of many others.
When the bishop had called us in to see how we were doing and we told him we were trying our best to be self-sufficient, he asked why we hadn't been in to see him about food and the reply was that we were doing our best to provide for ourselves. He explained that sometimes part of being a good provider is to make use of the system we had been putting into for many years and that we would not be doing our best if we didn't make use of the Lord's gift. (It was true that we had spent time over the years participating in various welfare projects wherever we lived. Once David even came home green from packaging jello at the dry-pack cannery in Missouri!)
Because of the experiences we have had on a personal level with the church welfare system, I have reason to reverence the place, the time and the food itself. We enjoy fellowshipping with ward family when we go to the vineyard, but we try not to be wasteful or careless in our work. We know that these little raisins will be sent out to kitchens of God's children and that they will bear His name everywhere they go.
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