1/2 cup of rice

Tim and I have been working with the kids about being truly grateful.  We've had Family Home Evenings on the subject, but feel like the subject is not "sinking in".

A few weeks ago, a neighbor gave a talk in church about gratitude.  She told the story about a group of elementary students who were asked to gather in the school gym.  As each student entered the gym they were given a card with the number 1, 2, or 3 on it.

The "1" group sat down to a table adorned with a tablecloth, folks, napkins, glasses, pitchers of water.
The "2" group sat down to a table with just one pitcher of water (no tablecloth, forks, or napkins).
The "3" group sat down on blanket on the floor and only a blanket.

The "1" group was served a very nice dinner and were offered seconds.

The "2" group was served a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The "3" group was served a half cup of rice to eat with their fingers.

As the "1" group was finishing their second helping of ice cream for dessert, they started to realize what the other groups didn't have.  They offered their bounties to their friends.

So tonight, the Barlow family, sat on the floor and ate a half cup of rice for dinner (with our fingers).  I retold this story.  There were many tears shed once the kids realized this was dinner and there would be no "treat" for the day.  As we explained that most people in the world live like this, our children lowered their head and their tears fell into the rice cups.

It was hard as a parent to see your child cry because they were still hungry (even though we had a pantry full of food).  How grateful I am that we have an abundant amount of food in our home and tonight's dinner was just a lesson.  When putting the kids to bed, their prayers were of humble gratitude and thankfulness (and hopes that we are having a big breakfast tomorrow).

I hope this is a lesson we will remember.

This was taken before we told the kids what our plans were for the night!

PS - The kids did have an abnormally large snack after school today...they weren't starving!