From Personal Experience
“There’s going to be less gifts under the Christmas tree this year.” My wife announced to me and our children.
We were not surprised by that announcement. We knew that we were in a very tight financial situation that year. My wife had an injury that prevented her from working. And my salary as a pastor was only enough to pay the mortgage, food, gas and utilities.
The insurance had twice denied her claims for the carpal tunnel injury and so we sought help from an injury lawyer.
For the meantime she went back to school to become a nurse because her doctor told her that she must not work around computer anymore. The repetitive hand and finger motions in operating the computer were bad for her upper extremity nerves. She could no longer do her Autocad designing job for an architectural firm. She thought nursing would be a good second career.
While a student she did not have any income. We prayed that her injury claims will be approved to fill up some gaps.
Christmas was fast approaching and our church was already planning for the programs for the season. My wife was directing a Christmas play. Usually she would prepare gifts for each child and distribute them after the pageant. But this time she was quite sad that she did not have enough money. So instead of Christmas bags with goodies, and some cash, she only managed envelopes with a greeting card and $10.00 for each of the twelve children.The $120.00 that she had was supposed to be for purchasing gifts for the family to be stashed under the Christmas tree.
Few days after the church Christmas program, my wife received a call from the injury lawyer. He said” Mrs. Valenzuela, we won a $12,000.00 settlement for your job-related injury.” She was speechless.
Then it dawned on her that the $120.00 she gave to the church children as gift was given back to her exactly a hundred fold-$12,000.00!
God answered our prayers more than what we thought and desired for. We cannot out give God!
Needless to say, our Christmas tree had a mountain of gifts.
More Thoughts on Giving
When we give:
Giving is near to God’s heart. It is His purpose for every believer to give and share. Jesus demonstrated the utmost sacrificial giving when He gave Himself to die on the cross that He may provide salvation to the lost world.
myJOURNEY 