A little rice goes a long way

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

At the Rust house, we are attempting to gain a little perspective into the lives of the people who we are praying for daily. The suffering people of Uganda and Ethiopia sometimes have nothing to eat, and when they do, it can be a small amount of rice or other inexpensive food. I don't know about you, but rice always leaves me feeling hungry about an hour after I eat it.

Our family decided to try eating that way one night a week to remember and honor those people. We had our first rice night yesterday evening and we were SHOCKED to see that all 3 children ate the rice! Evan, our oldest, has never touched rice, so it was hilarious to see him gobble up the entire plate of rice and ask for more. Jason kept kicking me under the table to make sure I was noticing this unbelievable event.

This evening was full of conversations about how the mommies and daddies must feel when they have to tell their children that there is no more. Evan told me he thinks that makes those mommies sad, and I agreed! We attempt to remain respectful, and not in a state of sorrow for these people. They don't want our pity~I'm sure. We prayed more earnestly, I believe, for those people last night. I know I thought about them the entire time I fixed the 6 cups of rice on my nice stove. And I thought about them when I washed my dishes in the nice sink with running water. And I thought about them when I tucked my children into their warm bed. I was surprised how such a simple thing changed my perspective.