No More Leftovers

 

Last spring I had my middle school students engage in an activity that focused on helping others. I asked them to move around the room writing on posters — popcorn style — what their ideas were for giving back to their community.

After this activity I ended up hanging some of the posters above the desk in my office. I was touched by what they had written. Many of their ideas were surprisingly creative for such young minds; “raise awareness of the needs by making PSAs”, “hold a 5K to raise money for children who need shoes”.

 A couple of weeks ago one child’s words caught my eye, and for weeks I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of it;

“Giv them yor leftovers”

Obviously this middle schooler needs to work on his spelling a little, but that wasn’t what caught my eye. I am captured by how this statement “Give them your leftovers” summarizes the culture of today.  I’m struck by how that statement, rings home in the culture of our homes, families, and churches.

Leftovers are what you don’t want, they’re well…left over. They have this connotation of being extra, able to be discarded. It’s what you eat the second day, sometimes willingly (hello, day after pizza!), sometimes just so it doesn’t go to waste (that casserole that flopped). Having leftovers for dinner is usually the “easy way”, the no-preparation-time kind of meal. It can be thrown together and it works. Sometimes it fits and everyone’s happy, other times you get the “not again” sighs and comments. But it’s easy, it works, and why not, that’s the way our mothers did it right?

This child’s words have left me struck by how I give my leftovers to others. I have my “to-do” lists (yes, plural) that need to get crossed off, my blog and work goals that must be accomplished, my errands that I’m required to run, etc. After I’ve checked all that off; my husband, my family, my friends, my Church, my community…they get my leftovers. They get whatever energy I have left. They get whatever is left in the bank of time I so lovingly “spared” for them. They get my second-day-no-prep-time-quick-and-easy-leftovers.

Our fast-paced American culture tries to convince us that this is the way we’re supposed to live.

But what if we stopped living this way? What if we stopped focusing on the need-to’s, the must-do’s, and the have-to’s? What if we started giving our family our all? What if our church didn’t only get our “spare time”? What if those in need within our community got more of our attention? What if our Saturday mornings were spent riding bikes with our family, going out to coffee with a tired and weary girlfriend, or serving in our local food bank? What would happen if we gave up those lists and instead stopped to really experience a different side of life?

Yes, we do have responsibilities, and I’m not advocating neglecting being good stewards of what we’ve been blessed with. I’m just wondering what would happen to the culture of our families, the culture of our churches, and even the culture of our communities if we fought against the go-go-go mentality and instead truly invested in life. I believe God would fill in the gaps.

I believe if we invest in what matters most to His heart, relationships, He’ll help us accomplish the list of must-do’s and need-to’s.

You must realize I’m just starting my journey.  I haven’t figured this thing out myself (as I sit with my to-do list right beside my keyboard).  But I’ve hit a place where I finally realize I’m tired of serving up leftovers to those I love. I’m tired of giving luke-warm attention to those around me with broken hearts, empty bellies, and bruised {abused} arms. I want my family, my friends, and my community to get the entire meal, not just what’s left over.

By, Mandy Scarr