Small Things with Great Love: Childrens’ Lemonade Stand Raises over $1000 in Support of St. Joseph Diner
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers.....”
-1 Timothy 4:12
A mother contacted Catholic Charities of Acadiana several weeks ago to tell me that while she was away, her children (all under 10) decided to set up a lemonade stand in front of their family home. She went on to explain that her children decided that instead of selling lemonade for the profit of their family, they wanted to sell lemonade to support Catholic Charities of Acadiana’s St. Joseph Diner!
To advertise, they made a simple sign. They enlisted their father’s help to promote the stand to the neighborhood through a group app. They sold to passersby and also benefitted from traffic going to a garage sale down the road. The children started the sale in the morning and, despite a spell of rain, depleted lemonade, and a diminished supply of ice, they persevered! And, they raised over $500! With a generous matching gift offered by their parents, the children came to present a check to St. Joseph Diner for a total of $1010.00!
What most impacted me about this example is the fact that the children responded so selflessly, so naturally. It is clear in the action of the children that the love and values of the parents were being reflected. It also impacted me that upon the children’s personal responses of charity to the needs of the world around them, the parents corresponded to the children’s generosity in kind. Isn’t this a picture of the love that God has for us, and the response we have to Him as children?
As St. Teresa of Calcutta says, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” And this small thing, done with great love, made a BIG impact, similar to what we see of God’s generosity in the Gospel story when Jesus feeds the multitude with just a few loaves and fish (Matthew 15:32-39). This small act of love fed around 200 real people through St. Joseph Diner, and we are so inspired and grateful!
What small act of love can you do today?