Just enough

To help us consider how much we need in life, as opposed to how much we might want to have.

by Ronni Lamont

Suitable for Key Stage 1

Aims

To help us consider how much we need in life, as opposed to how much we might want to have.

Preparation and materials

• You will need a bag or container of flour; a small bottle containing oil (ideally glass so that the contents can be seen); a pack of chapattis/flatbreads/tortillas.

Assembly

Explain that Elijah lived in Israel many years before Jesus, and that he was a very brave man, who spoke for God. Go on to tell the story.

God had sent Elijah to King Ahab to tell him that God was not pleased with the way the King was behaving and ruling the country, and even less pleased with the Queen, King Ahab’s wife. King Ahab was so cross with Elijah for insulting him and his wife that he decided to kill Elijah.

Elijah ran away. He ran to another country, across the desert. There were no plants growing in that area, because it hadn’t rained for ages - and the people didn’t have any food as a result.

Eventually, Elijah came to a town called Zarapheth. But it was night-time, and Zarapheth had big walls and gates to stop people attacking the town, and the gate was shut. So Elijah slept outside that night.

In the morning, a little old lady came out, and started picking up twigs and sticks, to make a fire. Elijah asked her if she could give him some food, and the woman explained that she had only enough flour (pick up bag), and oil (pick up bottle), to make bread for herself and her son. Explain that the bread would have been chapatti-type bread (show the bread), not the airy stuff some of us have today. She agreed to share her last meal with Elijah, and amazingly, there was just enough flour, and oil, to make bread for three people: Elijah, her son and herself.

That evening, she thought she’d just check that there wasn’t any flour and oil left - and she discovered something very strange had happened.

(Ask the children what they think had happened.) There was just enough flour and oil to make bread for three people.

The next day the same thing happened. And it kept happening for months. There was always just enough flour and oil to make bread for three people.

And then, after several months, it rained. The plants began to grow, and eventually there was fresh grain again to make flour. Elijah left the old woman and her son and went back to Israel, because King Ahab had calmed down and it was safe again.

Time for reflection

Reflection:

Think about that story. Elijah and the old woman and her son always had just enough. Not lots and lots, which is what they might have liked. God gave them just enough. Is it sometimes bad for us to have as much as we want rather than as much as we need?

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord,
that sometimes you give us just enough.
Amen.

Song/music

‘Thank you, Lord, for this new day’ (Come and Praise, 32)