July: Ruth's Lunch
This story comes from the time of the judges, and it’s one of friendship and faithfulness and love. Ruth, our main character, was a widow and a foreigner - two things that made her a person in need in her time. She went to Boaz’s field to glean, a common practice for people who were in need of food. But Boaz didn’t just allow her to glean - he made sure there was plenty there for her to glean, and he invited her to come and eat lunch with his workers. Boaz, a man of faith, practiced hospitality and generosity with Ruth.
Who are the people around you who need someone to see them, recognize their need, and help them?
Who are the people around you who need someone to see them, recognize their need, and help them?
Read It Ruth 2
14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”
Pray It
God, you make the seasons and the harvests, you feed us from your abundance. Help us to be like Boaz and see people in need. Help us to be like Ruth, asking for help when we need it. Amen.
God, you make the seasons and the harvests, you feed us from your abundance. Help us to be like Boaz and see people in need. Help us to be like Ruth, asking for help when we need it. Amen.
Make It
Parched grain was kind of the trail mix of Ruth’s time - portable and filling. Ruth’s parched grain was barley. This recipe is for corn, but it should also work with barley (or other grains and seeds, like quinoa and amaranth).
Ingredients
* ½-1 Tbsp oil (just enough to cover the bottom of a pan)
* 1-2 cups dried corn (you can get this at most Latin-American grocery stores)
* Salt (or the seasoning of your choice) to taste
Instructions
1. In a large skillet or cast iron pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Carefully use a paper towel to make sure the oil is spread evenly in the pan, but that there isn’t excess oil (you’re not wanting to fry the corn).
2.Once the pan is heated and ready, cover the bottom of it with dried corn (not overlapping pieces).
3. Sprinkle it generously with salt.
4. Let the dried corn heat until it begins to pop. You may want to cover it with a lid, removing the lid every 30 seconds or so to stir it.
5. The corn should puff up with air and slowly brown. Use a spatula to stir it so it browns evenly. The corn shouldn’t burn or pop into popcorn. If it starts to burn, remove it from the heat and lower the heat before putting the pan back on it. This should take about 5-7 minutes to become puffed.
6. Test a kernel (careful, it will be hot!). Once the corn is soft but still crunchy, it’s parched!
7. Add additional salt or seasonings, stir, remove from heat, and let cool.
Parched grain was kind of the trail mix of Ruth’s time - portable and filling. Ruth’s parched grain was barley. This recipe is for corn, but it should also work with barley (or other grains and seeds, like quinoa and amaranth).
Ingredients
* ½-1 Tbsp oil (just enough to cover the bottom of a pan)
* 1-2 cups dried corn (you can get this at most Latin-American grocery stores)
* Salt (or the seasoning of your choice) to taste
Instructions
1. In a large skillet or cast iron pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Carefully use a paper towel to make sure the oil is spread evenly in the pan, but that there isn’t excess oil (you’re not wanting to fry the corn).
2.Once the pan is heated and ready, cover the bottom of it with dried corn (not overlapping pieces).
3. Sprinkle it generously with salt.
4. Let the dried corn heat until it begins to pop. You may want to cover it with a lid, removing the lid every 30 seconds or so to stir it.
5. The corn should puff up with air and slowly brown. Use a spatula to stir it so it browns evenly. The corn shouldn’t burn or pop into popcorn. If it starts to burn, remove it from the heat and lower the heat before putting the pan back on it. This should take about 5-7 minutes to become puffed.
6. Test a kernel (careful, it will be hot!). Once the corn is soft but still crunchy, it’s parched!
7. Add additional salt or seasonings, stir, remove from heat, and let cool.
Explore it: A Note from Tami
Who are the people around you who need someone to see them, recognize their need, and help them? Can you think of a situation in your life in which someone has reached out and helped you? You can pay it forward to help others. And help your child gain that valuable trait. Most children, even young ones, have some awareness that there are many people in our world who are struggling. You can involve them in making your financial contributions to those farther away, such as in the Ukraine, Ethiopia,or other countries through Mennonite Central Committee. https://donate.mcc.org/
It may be that local more tangible ways of helping make even a greater impact on your child. For example, the grandmother of a little one that I work with recently passed away. The mother of another child in the class processed this loss with her child, helped her make a card, and then together, took the card along with some cookies to her friend and his family.
EMPATHY - “Empathy is the ability to imagine how someone else is feeling in a particular situation and respond with care. This is a very complex skill to develop.” And our children depend on our example and guidance to become empathetic. This article focuses on helping the very young child (birth to 3) develop the foundation of empathy. HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP EMPATHY
7 WAYS TO FOSTER EMPATHY IN KIDS - This article focuses on a broader age range
Who are the people around you who need someone to see them, recognize their need, and help them? Can you think of a situation in your life in which someone has reached out and helped you? You can pay it forward to help others. And help your child gain that valuable trait. Most children, even young ones, have some awareness that there are many people in our world who are struggling. You can involve them in making your financial contributions to those farther away, such as in the Ukraine, Ethiopia,or other countries through Mennonite Central Committee. https://donate.mcc.org/
It may be that local more tangible ways of helping make even a greater impact on your child. For example, the grandmother of a little one that I work with recently passed away. The mother of another child in the class processed this loss with her child, helped her make a card, and then together, took the card along with some cookies to her friend and his family.
EMPATHY - “Empathy is the ability to imagine how someone else is feeling in a particular situation and respond with care. This is a very complex skill to develop.” And our children depend on our example and guidance to become empathetic. This article focuses on helping the very young child (birth to 3) develop the foundation of empathy. HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP EMPATHY
7 WAYS TO FOSTER EMPATHY IN KIDS - This article focuses on a broader age range
Help Keep Building Faith Alive!
Building Faith, a ministry of the Mennonite Early Childhood Network, operates on a limited budget funded totally by personal donations.
Would you be willing to donate to keep it going?
A small regular donation of $5.00 or a larger one time contribution would be greatly appreciated. Click below to make a tax deductible contribution to Mennonite Early Childhood Network through the Mennonite Education Agency, our parent organization.
(An anonymous donor is matching contributions right now!)
Building Faith, a ministry of the Mennonite Early Childhood Network, operates on a limited budget funded totally by personal donations.
Would you be willing to donate to keep it going?
A small regular donation of $5.00 or a larger one time contribution would be greatly appreciated. Click below to make a tax deductible contribution to Mennonite Early Childhood Network through the Mennonite Education Agency, our parent organization.
(An anonymous donor is matching contributions right now!)
