A Tale of Two Boys

A Reading for World Hunger Sunday or Thanksgiving Day

Narrator: Stomachs protruding, bulging sore. Two boys. Two reasons.

First World Boy: Mom, can I have more turkey?

First World Mother: Help yourself—there's plenty more.

Third World Boy: Mom, isn't there anything to eat? My stomach's
sore!

Third World Mother: Maybe tomorrow.

Narrator: One mom laughs. The other mom cries.

First World Mother: Inflation's cutting the paycheck; we'll have to economize!

Third World Mother: Drought-ravaged land; no game, no grain.

Narrator: One dad trying to keep his standard of living alive. The other struggling just to survive.

First World Son: I don't like sweet potatoes!

First World Mother: Well, there's plenty of mashed.

Third World Son: Couldn't you find anything to eat?

Third World Mother: Nothing, son.

First World Mother: "Now thank we all our God…"

First World Boy:You know I don't like pumpkin pie!

First World Mother: Then eat the mince.

First World Boy: I don't like that either!

First World Mother: Surprise, I baked a cherry pie just for you.

Third World Boy: Nothing?

Third World Mother: Nothing.

Third World Boy: It's been three days!

Third World Mother: Maybe tomorrow.

First World Boy: Mom, my stomach hurts!

First World Mother: That's what you get for eating like a pig.

Quiet down. You won't die. Dad's getting you an Alka Seltzer."

Third World Boy: Mom, my stomach hurts!

Third World Mother: I know, son. Maybe tomorrow there'll be something. Dad's still out looking.

Narrator: Stomachs protruding, bulging, sore. Two boys. Two reasons.

First World Boy: One is stuffed.

Third World Boy: The other is starved.

First World Mother: One mom laughs.

Third World Mother: The other mom cries.

First World Boy: One boy lives.

Third World Boy: The other boy dies.

Narrator: (Reads James 2:15-17)

Used by permission, from Thanksgiving, Aids for Worship and Food for Thought, Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Reformed Worship 16 © June 1990, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.