A Shared Lunch

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

“Oh, rats!” Teresa exclaimed as she peered into her locker, looking for her lunch box. She remembered it sitting on the hallway table at home, forgotten when she set it down to put on her shoes.

“What’s wrong, Teresa?” Elizabeth Rose asked as she turned from shutting her locker. “Why do you look so sad? We’re about to have lunch—the best part of the day!”

“My lunch box. It’s at home, and I can’t eat today’s school lunch because I’m allergic to eggs and wheat.” Teresa’s eyes welled up with tears as she realized she would have nothing to eat and a long afternoon ahead of her.

Elizabeth Rose wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “We’ve got you covered. We’ll share ours with you. Come on, let’s go.”

Elizabeth Rose is a take charge kind of girl. At her suggestion, Teresa’s friends dug through their lunches, looking to see what items they had that were both egg- and wheat-free. Soon Teresa had more than enough for lunch as all the girls at her table happily offered her tidbits that she could eat.

Isn’t it amazing how a dreaded situation can be flipped upside down and inside out by a simple act of generosity? Teresa’s bad day was completely reversed by Elizabeth Rose’s kindness and her inviting others to participate in taking care of Teresa. What was going to be a no-good, terrible day became a fun memory for all the girls who participated. Scripture teaches us that when we bless others, we are often blessed at the same time. Elizabeth Rose and the girls who came to Teresa’s rescue all had more than enough to eat, and lunch that day was one of the most fun of the year.

Things to Think About

• What small acts of kindness have you done for a friend that resulted in your being blessed back in return?
• Ask an adult you love the same question and compare your experiences.

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Look for ways to bless your friends, and make sure to note how God blesses you in return.