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WIC Blessings

12/6/2010

 
This week our family was accepted into New York’s WIC program!  WIC provides checks for nutritious food for low income pregnant women, infants, and children under the age of five.  The low income legibility guidelines for a family of four in New York are making less than $40,793 a year (before taxes) and we make $40,000 a year (before taxes), so we were blessed that Christian and Abbie just qualified for this government assistance program.

Each month we get checks that have a specific item(s) written on the check, and we take the check to our local grocery store and receive that item(s) for free.  The trick is you have to purchase just that item when using a WIC check, so sometimes checking out can take a long time.  For example this week I had to "check out" six times doing the following: 
WIC Check One:  1 Gallon Whole Milk
WIC Check Two:  1 Gallon 1% Milk
WIC Check Three:  1 16-oz Peanut Butter & 36-oz. Cereal
WIC Check Four:  $6 in fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables
WIC Check Five:  $6 in fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables
Personal Cash:  Tarter Sauce and Sour Cream

I was really nervous and embarrassed going up to the cashier.  I had never used food stamps or WIC checks before, so I felt nervous not knowing if I had grabbed the correct items and I was embarrassed to be using government assistance to pay for my groceries.  I was so glad to be blessed with a very sweet cashier.  I had mistakenly only grabbed 1 18-oz. box of mini-wheats cereal when my check qualified me for two, so she ran back and got me an extra box.  I hadn't reached the maximum allowable amount for my fruits and vegetables check, so she ran back and got me two extra bunches of bananas.  She patiently scanned each item and applied the check to that item.  She was great, and made me feel comfortable even though the situation was new and I was making mistakes.

On the flipside, the people behind me in line were less than thrilled that I was taking so long to check out.  My cart wasn't that full, but it probably took me around 15 minutes to completely check out.  They got increasingly impatient with me "checking out" half-a-dozen times, and made this clear through their eyes and stances.  Every time I glanced back at them my face would blush a little bit knowing that I was the source of their irritation.  However, now that I'm home I have been thanking God for blessing me with lessons on humility, love, and compassion.

By using WIC checks I am being blessed with learning humbleness.  I don't recall every having watched someone use food stamps or WIC checks to pay for their groceries, but I think that if I ever saw a woman with two small children using government assistance I would probably have judged her for being irresponsible.  Now I understand that there are a lot of reasons people find themselves in a position where they need government assistance and it is certainly not my job to judge that person.  Greg and I made a choice to be in full-time ministry knowing full well we would always be poor, but knowing we would be rich with the joy that comes from serving Jesus.  We have chosen to consider all things loss for the sake of Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8)

By using WIC checks I am being blessed with learning love and compassion.  If I am ever behind someone using food stamps or WIC checks to pay for their groceries then I will wait patiently.  I will smile encouragingly when they look back at me.  If possible, if I spot them in the parking lot after checking out then I will give them one of my bags of groceries as a gift.

Using WIC checks has definitely been a blessing for our family!  We are blessed with having money to purchase food, and we are blessed with lessons on humility, love, and compassion.
Melissa Nickerson link
12/6/2010 05:59:51 am

Sweet Rachel,
This is Melissa Nickerson. How I love your humble spirit! You are truly a wonderful person. I really wish that I could have spent more time with you while we lived closer. I also learned a similar lesson today... it was humbling, and it made me feel very blessed for what God has given me. I helped a couple of friends who are quite poor (on WIC, living in a bad section of town, without a washer and dryer, using blankets for curtains, etc.). It made me very grateful for what I have, and it also made me realize that I need to try harder to help those in need and to be a blessing to them. Keep sharing... I love reading your updates! :) xoxoxox. Give our love to Christian and Abbie... say hi to Greg from us. :) Thanks for the card you sent as well. Loved it. :)

Rachel link
12/6/2010 10:50:48 am

Oh Rachel, thank you so much for sharing. My family went through a scary period when I found out I was pregnant - because we soon found out our insurance did not cover pregnancy! The doctor's office encouraged me to apply for Medicaid, and I was surprised to learn that Sarah and I qualified. I have battled between 1) feeling incredibly blessed to have my entire pregnancy covered financially 2) feeling guilty for using government assistance when I don't feel like our family is in need like others are and 3) feeling ashamed to share that information with others for fear of being judged. I have finally come to the point where I feel blessed and encouraged by it, and I am so glad that you shared your story. It was an encouragement to me. :)

Ruth Lin
12/23/2010 02:37:21 pm

I love what you said about not judging those receiving government assistance . Mother Teresa said once, "When we judge, we have no time to love." Thanks for sharing.


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