Give a little, get a little.

Alright, this crazy thing happened today.

I'll briefly tell you how we got here.

  Yesterday my mom came to visit.  I bragged to her how I sold 4 things online within 2 hours.  She tells me “Well don't you think you priced your stuff to cheap then?  You need to try to get more out of your stuff.  Quit wasting all of Chad’s money.. blah, blah blah”.  I think that’s how it went anyway, right mom?   I explained to my mom, who is exactly twice my age... The more you give, the more you get.  Plain and simple.  She knows this, but she likes to give me a hard time about my crazy spending/giving habits.  Good thing too, or imagine how much worse off I'd be! 

So last week at church the sermon was given by our music director, who talked about his experience with helping a man on the side of the road.

Not like a man with a broken down car on the side of the road, flashers going, just needing a quick jump start or a can of gas.  But a man who was sitting on the side of the road with a cardboard sign crying out for help.

He tells us that the first time he got in this situation he ignored the guy, and it haunted him.  He felt so terrible about it that he vowed the next time he was in this situation, he'd respond better, and he did.

That second time, he blessed a man with a package of socks, just as this guy’s sign had requested.  The man tells him “God Bless”.  They were both blessed!

Today we made a run through McDonalds.  On the way there was a guy in the median with a sign.  I couldn't read it, but as we drove past I saw in my rearview mirror that people were handing cash out their window to this guy.  I was happy to see that not everyone yells “get a job” and flips these people off.  There are still caring people in this world. 

We went through the drive-thru (because who takes 3 kids out of their car seats and into a fast food joint just to order a burger? not I!).  I ordered the guy a couple burgers, some fries and a sweet tea.  mmm.  I love me some sweet tea.  We each only got a burger for ourselves, but I wanted to be sure this guy's belly was full and he was ready to tackle whatever life gave him after we left him.

Once we were at window #2 and our food was handed to us my husband checked the bag.  We were missing a McChicken.  They asked us to pull around to spot #1 to wait.  While we were waiting I was complaining to my husband that he should just go inside and get his damn sandwich, since it was taking so long.  I know, I get impatient some times… 

About another minute later a guy comes out with a sack and says he was on break watching us out the window and wondered why we were there so long.  He went back to check on it and said they had forgotten about us.  He handed us the sack with a coupon for a free meal! 

So we drive away, dropping the guy off his food and drink.  I wrote a little "God Bless" on the bag, and my husband verbally said it to him.

We get about 5 miles down the road before it hit me.

WHOA!  You work FAST God!  We just gave a meal to this man you created, and you gave a meal back to us.  Bless you, Lord.  You are good!

Now- This story wouldn't be complete without me telling you a little truth, that I wish hadn't crossed my mind.  The guy, sitting there asking for help, was smoking a cigarette.  Now, I tend to believe that if you have the cash for cig's, you have money to handle your needs.  Or you should be saving your money for your needs, not spending it on your wants. But- I knew, it was NOT my place to judge.  And just to be sure I really understood, I said it out loud, "This is not my place to judge God, please don't let me judge him". 
Judgment dropped, and I freely gave.  The man didn't say thank you, in fact all he said was "alright, alright" as I handed him the food.  But whatev, I mean, I didn't do it because I was looking for a thank you.  I did it because God wanted  me to.  He wants us to do good deeds for each other.  Happiness.

 

 

 

Matthew 6:1

Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.

 

*I'm sharing this story with you because I want you to be encouraged to help others, without reservations or judgment.