March 11

For Today's Forward Day by Day readings, Click Here.

Today's scripture reading shares the ultimate bag story. It's a story about a lunch bag...the lunch bag someone's mother packed for her child, much like the one we have packed or may be packing for our own children. Like our purses, this lunch bag was prepared with everything this young child would need for himself and others that day:

John 6:1-15

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."

Significant to note that this boy's simple act of sharing his bag content led to ultimate satisfaction: belief in the presence of God.

Pretty powerful stuff. I have every doubt that the lunch I'm packing for my daughter today will score me the Best Mom Ever Award. But I have every confidence that the bag God's packed her, and the caddy she has to help her choose her strengths wisely, will help her do great things today.