I don't spend a whole lot of time yet engaging my children in thoughtful discussion about global issues. They're just too young. Their "universe" consists of home, school, church, the park, etc. But I know that the time to begin the foundation of moral grounding is now. This is the time to prepare them in the little moments that hold big lessons. This is the time to equip them with the compass to navigate the bigger issues of our world so that when the time comes, they'll know what to do.
And so, we consider the little things - like the crust on a peanut butter sandwich. I know a lot of children insist the crusts be cut off the sandwich. Many parents do it because they feel it is a small nurturing gesture. Some think it's cute. Others do it out of habit because their mother did it for them. Probably most do it as a desperate attempt to get their picky child to eat something - anything. The picky eater is a discussion for another post.
For me, removing the crusts is not an option. It's one thing if my child gets to the end of his sandwich and becomes full and cannot finish part of the crust. For the child to grow up, believing that the crust is not worth eating and disposable, is a seemingly small, but no less tragic, mistake in the parental task of moral teaching.
Empathy and compassion for those in need begins in childhood. It is critical we teach our children not to waste the blessings they are given. Use care and make sure to spread the peanut butter and jelly all the way to the edge of the bread. Then teach your children that the crust is valuable and worthy of eating.
Talk to your children about those children in this world who dig through garbage every day for the prize of a crust of bread.
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