Giving

Giving to others can be truly rewarding. And sacrificial giving is most astounding of all. This weekend people of the world celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with a little holiday called Easter. Easter is probably my most favorite holiday of all. I know some would argue for others, but to be honest with you, I feel an overwhelming sense of God's love at Easter. The fact that Christ would suffer and die for me just boggles my mind. The Lord of the universe was not above being a servant and giving his very being for my benefit. Jesus Christ was the greatest giver.

I want to share a practical story about giving in this blog that I think exemplifies the character of Christ. It is found in Gary LaFerla's book, Finding Your Way. This story reminds me how wonderful the act of giving can be and how "giving truly is the highest form of living." LaFerla's records the story of a lady who attends the Calvary Chapel Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL:

My heart's desire was for a shiny, perfect, purple bicycle, but God had it in his heart to use that longing to give me much, much more....
I had walked past that storefront window countless times. There it was - a shiny, purple, perfect new bicycle.
There are just some things that all children want, and I was no exception. "Oh the things that I could do with that beautiful new bike!" I thought.
My father was a pastor, and our family did not have a lot of money, so I decided to save my allowance and odd-job money to buy myself the bicycle. Every week I walked past the store to see "my" beautiful purple bike.
I worked hard to save my money and kept praying that God would bring me what I wanted.
One day during Sunday School, my teacher talked about a missionary family in need. She told us about the horrible sickness this family was enduring. Reading from a leader written by the family, she told the class about the little boy who had contracted hepatitis, most likely from a typhoid shot he had received in Chile. All week I thought about the little boy far away in Chile.
The next Sunday my teacher asked us what we should do to help this little boy. All the children decided that he could use a brand new bike - that would cheer him up for sure!
I remember my heart almost stopping: I said, "Oh no, God, not my bike!" But then I knew I had to give my bike money to my teacher so it could help that little boy in Chile get a bike.
One week later, I gave my money to the teacher.
Many years later in college, I began praying that God would send me a godly husband.
My father was still a pastor and was also teaching at a local Baptist college. When I went home for Christmas vacation one year, I met Philip at my father's church. Philip was attending the Baptist college where my father taught. In fact, he was in his class.
Not long after my Christmas break, I decided to transfer to this same college. I got to know Philip better since my college roommate was engaged to his best friend and my parent's and Philip's parents were also friends.
Our first date was on Valentine's Day. It soon became obvious that we were made for each other. We decided to get married. I didn't know then just how God-ordained our relationship was.
One evening, after both of our families had eaten dinner together, Philip's mom started reminiscing about their missionary days and what life was like on the field with small children. She shared about a time in Chile when the whole family had been terribly sick and how Philip had come down with hepatitis, presumably from a typhoid shot. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! My husband was the little boy that I had given up my bike money for! I had to leave the room because I was so emotional - I just could not stop crying.
God had been so good to me. My heart's desire was for a shiny, perfect, purple bicycle, but God had it in his heart to use that longing to give me much, much more - a godly husband that HE had ordained from the very beginning.
Philip and I now have three grown children and have been married for twenty-nine years...

What a testimony to the power of giving and the effect it can have on lives!