Feeding the 5000

I am sitting in my quiet home, on my own, on my computer and thinking about all the foster and kinship families, all the vulnerable children, all the hurting birth families who can’t see their children and my at-risk neighbours. And I am feeling helpless, what can I do while isolated at home? What can I do when I can’t drop a meal around, can’t give a hug, can’t pop in with a coffee? I am also feeling overwhelmed with all the people I should call to check in on…

I was reminded today of the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 in Mark 14:13-21. The disciples came to Jesus overwhelmed and advised him to send the crowds of people away because it was getting late and they would need food. These were crowds who had followed Jesus on foot from towns everywhere for healing and hope. But what did Jesus reply – “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16 (NIV)). The disciples still insisted they did not have enough food to feed the 5000, only five loaves of bread and two fishes.

We all know what Jesus did next, he multiplied the fishes and bread, he took what meagre food there was, gave thanks, gave it to the disciples, who fed the people, and there was an abundance of food.

I don’t have much sitting here in my house and you may be feeling you don’t have much to give either, but we don’t have to. We just have to go to Jesus, give thanks for what we do have and ask him to do the rest. God has put each of us in this situation, with whoever he has asked us to look after and care for, knowing we can’t do it on our own. God just says, give to Him what we have and He’ll do the rest.

Give thanks, give it to God and let him do the rest. And after that, give God the glory because he can turn our meagre offerings, our meagre dreams and hopes into miracles for those around us.