September 30
More Than
Enough
"Wise people store up the best food and olive oil. But foolish people eat up everything they have."
Proverbs 21:20 (NIrV)
Henry wiped his hands on a dish towel and let out a deep sigh. He had spent the last hour preparing dinner—roasted chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and crisp green beans. It smelled amazing. But as he placed the food on the table, he already knew what was coming.
"Ugh, do I have to eat the green beans?" his daughter, Emma, groaned, pushing them to the edge of her plate.
His son, Jake, barely looked up from his phone. "I gotta leave soon, Dad. Coach wants us there early for warm-ups." He grabbed a roll, took a bite, and stood up.
Henry glanced at his wife, who gave him a tired look. "I had a late lunch, so I’ll just pick at this," she said, stirring her food absentmindedly.
An hour later, Henry stood by the trash can, scraping nearly untouched food into the bin. The green beans, the mashed potatoes, even half the chicken—wasted. Again. And this wasn’t the only waste. The fridge was packed with leftovers no one would eat. There were yogurt cups and milk past their expiration dates. Bags of wilted lettuce, forgotten in the crisper drawer. Henry hated throwing food away, but it happened every week.
That night, he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, frustration gnawing at him. He thought about the images he had seen on the news just last week—families in refugee camps with barely enough to eat, children with empty bowls, mothers rationing scraps of food. And here we are, throwing away enough to feed another family.
The guilt settled in his chest.
Lord, what am I doing? he prayed. We have so much, yet we take it for granted. Help me to be wise with what You’ve given us.
The next day, Henry made a change. Instead of cooking large meals no one finished, he made just enough. He involved the kids in meal planning—letting them pick dishes they would actually eat. He donated the extra canned goods in their pantry to a local food bank. And when he saw a homeless man outside the grocery store, he didn’t just walk past. He bought him a meal.
As days turned into weeks, Henry noticed something. His family started appreciating their food more. They wasted less, and they even sat together more often, knowing dinner was a time to be grateful.
He had always thought abundance meant having more than enough. But now he understood—true wisdom was not in having, but in using what God had given him wisely.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Forgive me for taking Your blessings for granted.
I see now that everything You provide is a gift, and I want to be a good steward of it.
Help me to use what I have wisely, not wastefully.
Open my eyes to those in need, and teach me to be generous with my resources.
Let my heart be full of gratitude, and may my actions reflect Your love.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
