“It’s gonna be a minute,” he mumbled. After all, he was down to pennies.
He and I and others waited in an inch-along line at a local convenience store. We had both waited patiently, but I would soon wait even longer. Finally, when his turn came, he twisted sideways, slid a Ziploc bag from his pocket, and dumped the contents on the hard counter. The coins clanged against the hard surface, and I heard them again as he scraped them two-by-two toward the cashier—all two hundred pennies and two dimes.
Seeing the line growing longer, the cashier jumped in to help. When they finished, he mumbled something about a pump number and disappeared. Only later did I realize his efforts amounted to only one measly gallon of gas.
Had I known the nature of his purchase, I would have offered to assist. Perhaps I was too preoccupied. By the time I realized what had happened, he was gone—and so was my opportunity to show kindness. God 1, me 0.
Later, while taking my afternoon walk, I asked God for another opportunity and vowed I’d be more attentive.
Jesus looked on as the wealthy cast their excess into the temple treasury. Their gifts didn’t impress him. But the one from the widow did. In a time when little to no help availed itself for widows, she put in all she had on which to live. Jesus said she had given more than all the others combined.
I’ve been down on my luck before, but never to the point that I could only buy one gallon of gas. Nor have I had the widow’s faith and given my last penny to God when I needed it for food or bills. And some have passed me by when I faced difficulties, just as I did the guy at the gas station.
God arranges opportunities for us to demonstrate His love in tangible ways to others. Telling others about His love and inviting them to follow Him is done with more than just words. Our actions of love speak volumes, causing others to want to know why we live as we do.
Living with spiritual sensitivity toward those who are down to their pennies takes practice—and a whole lot of prayer. But, when we do, God will show us the opportunities.
Ask God for opportunities to help those who are down to pennies.
(photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)
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Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at [email protected].