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Sometimes the neatly typed notes make me feel excited and challenged. They are, after all, an opportunity to exemplify the love of Christ. I rush for my pink accordion coupon folder and see what money-saving magic I can perform.

And sometimes they make me grumpy, stingy even. When I am carefully measuring the store brand cereal for my Type 1 diabetic daughter Zoe’s 10 a.m. snack, making sure she gets exactly 20-25 carbohydrates, I wonder what it is like to not worry about these school-generated missives.

I’m talking about the half sheet or even quarter sheet pieces of paper that come home with Zoe in her High School Musical bookbag from time to time.

Since she has been attending a public school, where she is now a second-grader, we have received repeated requests to send loose change for a multitude of fundraisers. We have received pleas from her teachers to send large bags of cheese or animal crackers to dispense to the snackless children at snack time. Napkins are sometimes needed or yummy food treats for the upcoming holiday.

Recently we have been asked to contribute to a program that discreetly sends food home with school children on Fridays. The healthful items, such as instant oatmeal, applesauce and raisins, go to children who do not have food to eat over the weekend. These same appeals were repeated at our church and at a Mothers of Preschoolers meeting.

Sometimes it feels like maybe it’s the same people doing all the contributing. That the needs of others are just endless or that maybe if better choices had been made, some of these situations could have been avoided. Sometimes it seems like it is all my immediate family can do to keep insulin in the fridge and ketone strips in the bathroom.

But these perceptions must be banished like the money lenders in the temple if we are to serve the body of Christ. Satan get thee behind me.

My family can’t help rebuild New Orleans right now or distribute HIV information to African women. But we can assist our local public school and hungry children.

We have been given so much. Beyond all the material possessions that blanket our lives, we have been bestowed the love of Christ and the love of family and friends.

When Zoe complains that her bookbag is heavy, weighted down with food products or quarters, I should remind her that yes, this burden is heavy. Carrying the love God has for us and others is almost crushing. To whom much is given, much is required.

Janice Carmac is an editorial assistant for the News & Record. Contact her at 373-7098 or janice.carmac@news-record.com