The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 6:5-13, “Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?’

6 And this He was saying to test him; for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.

7 Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.’

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,

9 ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?’

10 Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.

12 And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost.’

13 And so they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.”

“Clean up your plate or there’s no desert!” I can hear my dear mother saying that even to this day.

Food was never be wasted. Recently, I dropped my food on the kitchen floor. I was devastated!

Since the floor was clean, it was my intention to retrieve it and eat it. My wife shouted, “NO, you’re not!”

At the time, I was thinking of how many young kids in the world were eating whatever scraps they

could find –kids I had seen that had never had enough. The disciples reckoned that the wage-equivalent

of 200 days was not enough to feed all the people. What were they to do???

One of the disciples said, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish…” Then, in

embarrassment, he concluded, “–but what are these for so many people?” But, Jesus took the boy’s

lunch and turned it into a banquet! Never in a million years would that young lad have thought his

meager lunch would be used to feed so many. You have a surprise waiting for you, too.

There was a garage in Florida where we lived that had a sign that read, “Little Is Much If God Is In It.” I always wondered if the boy’s lunch was what prompted that sign. Never put yourself down! Don’t be arrogant; but always remember that God loves you, regardless of how little you think you have. He can multiple your talents (and you have them!) to help and encourage others. And always remember

to clean up your plate, because He has desert for you. Boy, do you have something amazing waiting for you!

We pray for you every day; join us in praying for yourself as well,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”