The Broken Toy

    I feel like this post needs an apology. I am not pointing fingers. I am not saying I have it figured out. This has been and is a challenge that I face over and over. I am still learning. But it is a plea to re-evaluate the way we think about giving.   

                                      

  I looked at the little car in my hand. Several years ago it was bought from a thrift store and after much loving from my little son the rear axle was missing. My first instinct was to throw it in the trash can. But then another picture came to mind. And I just sat and looked at the little toy.

  When we moved to another country to be missionaries, I didn’t wonder what I would do with broken toys and worn-out clothing. I wondered how I was going to feed my family, how I was going to witness to neighbors, and how I was going to support my husband. But never about what to do with broken toys.

  But broken toys are a problem that reflects a bigger problem. There are over one hundred children in our village that would love a broken toy. My son’s shirt that he outgrew, stretched and faded from the African sunshine with three small holes, is still better than what many of them wear. But do you take your least and give it away? Would Jesus have given his broken, worn-out things to people? What about their self-respect? How would you feel if someone gave you clothing with holes in and broken toys? There is a story of a family on the mission field that was sent used tea bags. They were only used one time and still had some flavor left! But how did that make that family feel?

  On the other hand, I can’t count the number of times I have seen my friends and neighbors take what was someone’s trash and make it their treasure. Empty bottles, jelly jars, plastic containers are all saved and used carefully. Children roam the village with bags looking for any scrap of metal or heavy plastic to collect and take to the recyclers. Nothing is wasted. I am glad to save bottles and containers and pass them on to my friends. I give too small clothing to friends that have children younger than my own. But where I struggle is, if it is too worn, shabby, or broken for me, is it ok to give it away?

  I think God asks us to give our best to Him. He wants our whole life, our whole heart. When we give to others, I think we need to consider the same thing. We shouldn’t be wasteful, but neither should people have the feeling, “This isn’t good/nice enough for me any more so you can have it.” I have had that done and no matter how nice the things are, it leaves an unpleasant feeling.

  When I give clothing to my friends, if something is torn, stretched out of shape, or has holes, I throw it away. There are some pieces they might still be happy for, but it isn’t like their children don’t have any clothing to wear. Occasionally I do give them a toy my children no longer play with. But the broken car was put to use in a different way. When children come to my house to play, the broken cars are the ones that they may play with. I used to leave all toys in the house, all neighbor children outside the house. But I don’t feel guilty having broken toys around for playing in the dirt. My boys love them outside in the dirt too. There aren’t as many as there used to be because as often happens, some find their way into little boy’s pockets and go home with them. So I guess in a way, I am still giving away my broken toys!

  We cannot let ourselves become like a wealthy man that throws pennies at beggars so they leave him alone. We shouldn’t go through life, working hard, spending wisely, and leave a trail of unwanted items to people that aren’t as well off. Always reaching for bigger and better, and giving the smaller things to those we feel would be happy for anything we might offer. That is not sacrifice. That is hardly giving. It is disposing.

When those that God gives the most to, give their least to those that already have the least, who will be blessed the most? Those that live happily with the least? Or those that give their least away?