It All Began with One Lunch

The disciples came to [Jesus] and said, “Send the crowds away [to] buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” Matthew 14:15b-17 (NRSV) 

After an early retirement from Woolworth, Irving Price returned to his hometown of East Aurora, NY. 

With Herman Fisher, Irving Price founded a toy company that would become one of America’s most beloved brands: Fisher-Price. The company remains in East Aurora today. 

Despite their success, Irving and Margaret Price lived modestly. Their backyard adjoined the yard of a struggling family. The mother had died of cancer, leaving four children. The father, paralyzed by grief, forbade them from attending the funeral and from speaking her name in the house. 

Into that pain, the Prices quietly stepped. They invited the oldest child, Dave, over for lunch. Dave began spending more time at their home, finding comfort and stability. During high school summers, Dave worked on the Fisher-Price loading dock, earning Irving’s respect for his work ethic and intelligence. 

Mr. Price helped Dave gain admission to Brown University. At graduation, he gave Dave a $1,000 gift—which was a small fortune in 1960. When Dave married his college girlfriend, the Prices offered their Bermuda home for the honeymoon. 

The Prices dramatically changed the trajectory of my father’s life. Their gifts have multiplied beyond comprehension. I owe my very existence to their generosity and care. 

One act of kindness, offered without expectation, still ripples through generations and into eternity. 

It all began with one lunch. 

Prayer
Gracious God, today may I offer what I have, however little, trusting You to multiply it beyond imagining.

About the Author
Matt Laney is co-Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.