Having a growth spurt

Jesus, teach me to share whatever I can, and keep on growing! Amen.

Jesus healed the sick and taught a crowd of 5,000 people about God. When it got late, the Apostles wanted them to go home, but Jesus said, "Feed them yourself." "But we only have five loaves of bread and two fish!" the Apostles argued. So Jesus blessed the food and passed it around -- and suddenly, there was enough for everyone, with lots left over!

Are you having a "growth spurt" this summer? That's when you grow a lot in a short time. It often happens to kids during the summer -- and when it does, your mom probably sorts through your clothes and gets rid of the ones that don't fit any more.

You know it's good to give the clothes you can't wear to people who can use them, but it sometimes hurts to give away your favorite shorts or that sweatshirt you wore all the time last winter! This week's Gospel (Matthew 14:13-21) is about a problem like that.

In the Gospel story, Jesus teaches people all day, until it's late and they're hungry. The Apostles think everyone should go home and eat, but Jesus wants them to stay -- so He blesses a little bread and fish, and all of a sudden, there's enough food for everybody!

You give clothes you outgrew to people who need them more. That's the same as Jesus making sure everyone had food; they're both about sharing what you have. When Jesus passed the bread and fish around, some people think the folks He was teaching felt happy to see the miracle and added whatever food they had to the pile, too.

God can do miracles, but we have to do our part, too. That's why you give away clothes you don't need, even when you'll miss them.

Then you have a growth spurt in two ways: Your body gets bigger; but, when you share, so does your heart!