“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”Proverbs 18:9

Evils can be of all sorts. Besides the regular teen temptations to watch T.V. or surf the internet when I’m supposed to study, disobedience to parents, trying to look cool in church and all the regular complaints you hear from a teenager’s mother, there is a little-known temptation that stood out in my life, as it does in many of my friends lives – the temptation to waste time, talents and resources.

I had an opportunity to become aware of this temptation during this summer vacation. when I went for a mission field trip in Kerala along with some members of Teens Forum and their families. I
realized there is another world with children who are not as blessed as we are.

Though the adjacent days were rainy, the particular day of our visit was without rain, making it comfortable for us to travel. What I thought would be fun moments were really moments of new
experiences for me – at places called Kattachira and Thavalappara of Ranni. In Thavalappara of Ranni we went to a Child Development Center hostel. As I saw the inmates of that hostel walking
bare footed inside the hostel and around the compound, I recollected my demands of the latest branded shoes even when I have three pairs of them. Most of the kids belonged to broken families, some with single parents and others orphans. They cultivate livestock and plants. We offered all the kids sweets – they gave us snacks which we did not expect. We then said our goodbyes and headed to Kattachira of Ranni.

Kattachira is a place similar to Thavalappara but is in the mountain forest region. Even wild elephants roam in this region. Some of the old students of that hostel also came there to see us. The students entertained us with their wonderful God given talents.

These experiences helped me to understand the value of the blessings God has showered upon us – loving parents, good homes, good schools, all kinds of material comforts, even luxuries. God has
entrusted us with many talents that we hardly use and sometimes misuse. Let us be grateful to God and strive to use every God-given talent for His glory. Let us share the God given blessings with others who are in dire need of it. Let us be fruit bearing Christians.