Hanging out with students is better than coffee. And chocolate. And YES, I know exactly what I’m saying.

Teenagers get a bad rap. Sometimes for good reason, but other times for no reason at all. I happen to be both impressed and inspired by some of the students in my life. And their passion and example drives me to be a better person, a better Christ follower, a better mom, a better citizen.

Sunday I was shopping for a bread maker at a bed and bath store. I hate shopping, but my 16-year-old bread machine died a slow and painful death, and I was desperate. So … Me. Shopping. On a Sunday. And spending way too much money on a machine that will keep me from having to need my own dough and fire up the oven.

Around the time I found a beautiful, Cuisinart, stainless steel model, I discovered that a handful of the high school girls I hang out with were taking another girl shopping for some clothes for the school year. Sure, that’s cool. But what’s even cooler is this …

The girl they were shopping for is committed to NOT buy any clothes for the following year, donating all the saved cash to a local mission (read yesterday’s post). I’m not sure you realize how TOUGH that’s going to be. How TOUGH that already is for a 15-year-old girl. An entire school year without new jeans, a new prom dress, a new swim suit, new gym clothes … that’s a long time for a fashionista to go without the latest and greatest wardrobe.

Her friends, each of whom are working on their own challenges (again, see yesterday’s post), decided to pool their limited resources (each had about $40), to purchase her a couple new outfits to help get through the year. Nothing big, nothing that will take away from the challenge of what she’s giving up. Just a little something to say, “We’re with you.”

Now if that isn’t Acts 2 being lived out right in front of my eyes?!?!?!?!

I nearly bawled while buying my bread maker. One girl is giving up big for a local mission; a couple other girls are giving up big for their friend. In the end, everybody wins.