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5 Ways to Make Packing Lunches More Meaningful

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When the Back to School commercials started airing and the school supplies began showing up at my grocery store about a month ago, I panicked.

Don’t get me wrong, I love going back to school!  I love new beginnings and new teachers and new lunch pails!

But packing the lunch pails is a different story.

Packing lunch pails is not my favorite thing.

But every day keeps coming and every day my family and I need to eat!

So instead of grumbling and complaining about this tedious task, I am trying some alternative approaches that have been helping me have a more surrendered, worshiping heart.  I hope they help you, too!

Worship Music

Sometimes I pack the lunches before I go to bed.  Sometimes I pack them in the morning.  Either way, I like to play some worship music while I work.  It fills my mouth with all the right words and truths to keep my perspective upward.

Here are my favorite worship albums right now… (affiliate links)
Champion by Bryan and Katie Torwalt
Let It Echo by Jesus Culture
Of Dirt And Grace (Live From The Land) by Hillsong United

Inspirational Lunch Notes

I love jotting a quick note to my boys so that they get a piece of my heart for them in the middle of the day.  Often these notes will say an encouraging word or Bible verse – which actually is good for my own soul too!  Reading over the promises and life-giving words I am saying to them is a reminder to preach to myself right alongside my boys.

I made some cute FREE Printable lunchbox notes HERE and HERE that you are welcome to use!

Prayer

I love taking a few minutes to pray over my boys’ lunches when I think to do it!  Here is a little Scripture-based prayer that you could use…

“Dear Lord, I pray that this food will strengthen and nourish my child’s body to be a good student and friend today. Thank you that you satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9).  I pray my boys will taste and see that you are good (Psalm 34:8) and that they will hunger and thirst for righteousness more than turkey sandwiches and cheese sticks (Matthew 5:6 – with my own spin ha)!  In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

Teamwork

This is the first year I am starting to employ the help of my boys with packing lunches.  It helps when you have some easy, fun supplies to work with (see my favorite lunch packing supplies HERE)!

I bet some of you probably have your kids do the whole thing themselves.  That is awesome and you go, mama!  I am slowly getting there as I teach and train them what is an acceptable amount of pretzels (the entire bag) versus protein or fruit/veggie (tiny morsel).  But truly, it is such a good and important responsibility for our kiddos to have as members of a family!  Y’all are a team and work together to love and serve each other.

Packing Lunches is Kingdom Work

There is a story in the Bible about a little boy who offered his lunch to Jesus and then saw the Lord use it to feed over 5,000 people (read the full passage HERE).

Do you ever stop to think that on the other end of that story was a precious mama who had faithfully packed her son’s lunch?  She had NO idea that that one task – mundane and tedious as it was – would be the catalyst for something so miraculous.

Isn’t that motherhood?  So much of what we do seems dull and monotonous.  Wash the dishes, do the laundry, wipe the boogers, clean the same rooms over and over and over again – and yes, pack the lunches.  But it is often in these seemingly ‘meaningless’ tasks that a glorious opportunity unfolds for us to make His name known.

So when I am tempted to get discouraged about having to wake up and pack YET ANOTHER lunch, I remember that it’s being used by God to do far more than I could ever imagine.

For His glory.

Keep on, sweet mamas!

Joyfully,

Julie 🙂

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Lunchbox, Lunchbox Essentials, Lunchboxes, Making Lunchboxes Fun, Printable Lunch Box Love Notes
5 Comments

About Happy Home Fairy

Julie Brasington is a Preschool Director, wife of a South Florida Worship Pastor and mom of 3 boys. She writes at Happy Home Fairy where you can find easy craft ideas, FREE printables, simple recipes, holiday fun, thoughts on raising kids, and encouragement for moms.

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Reader Interactions

5 Comments

  1. Sarah

    September 6, 2016 at 8:35 am

    I dread packing lunches. Thank you for helping make them less of a chore. 🙂

    to Sarah" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sarah'>reply to this comment
  2. Laurie

    September 7, 2016 at 11:21 am

    I have a major bad attitude about lunches. Love the reminder to think about the mommy who packed those 5 loaves and 2 fishes. No glory for her–but none needed. Just faithfulness. Thanks.

    to Laurie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Laurie'>reply to this comment
  3. Karen

    September 9, 2016 at 1:04 pm

    I never thought about the loaves and fishes that way! Thank you for giving me a
    new joyful perspective as I fold (more) laundry. 😀

    to Karen" aria-label='reply to this comment to Karen'>reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      September 17, 2016 at 11:11 pm

      Karen, you are awesome! God bless you!

      to Happy Home Fairy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Happy Home Fairy'>reply to this comment
  4. chandra nixon

    September 21, 2017 at 11:10 am

    I have 3 girls who are now in k, 1st, and 2nd grade so lunches are pretty lame. how about options with a classmate who has peanut allergies? My daughters k class has a “no peanut zone” room this year. So along with the daunting task of the lunch makin for 3 cuties, peanut butter is off the list!!!!!!! And little Sophia is PICKY to boot!…8:08am….AHH…thank you for your words of encouragement!
    chandra

    to chandra nixon" aria-label='reply to this comment to chandra nixon'>reply to this comment

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Hey there! My name is Julie, the Happy Home Fairy. I am married to a Worship Pastor, we have 3 boys, and I am a Preschool Director. I love sharing easy, fun ideas to help moms build a happy home! Here you will find simple crafts, FREE Printables, yummy recipes, stories about my journey to trust Jesus with my family, and encouragement for your mama's heart. You can read more about me HERE!

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