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When I got the 100 dollar bill, I was all set and ready to go! I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I was going to do something… and it was going to be big! That first weekend, I sat down and hatched an idea and laid out a plan. The idea was good… it would raise a lot of money that could be utilized by the church. I started calling and emailing folks to get support. But then there was a problem. The idea was so good, that the stewardship committee was using it as part of the capital campaign! After that, I felt my enthusiasm drain, and it was hard to get going again. I filtered idea after idea, never hitting on “THE BIG ONE”.
As the holidays approached, the money simply hung on my refrigerator. My time and energy were devoted to other things. December came, and I was still in neutral. My Disciple Bible Study group asked me about the money each week… they were praying for me.
With Christmas approaching, activities and commitments continued to grow more hectic. At Cub Scouts we were planning our annual Christmas Party. As Committee Chair, one of my jobs is to oversee this event. One of our Bear leaders, Chris Snyder, came to me with an idea. He wanted the change the tone of the party for this year and help the boys learn about the joys of giving. Something went off in my head… I can’t explain it. At that moment, I knew that the money on my refrigerator (God’s money) would be used “for the purpose of giving”. When I gave the money to Chris, I had complete and utter peace. I knew the name of the charity we were giving money to, but I did not know where, specifically, the money would end up. I just knew God would take care of it. In the end, the pack collected $350 that was given to Blue Lights of Hope. This local charity assists families of Charlotte Mecklenburg police officers who are killed in the line of duty. The boys also made Christmas cards for the families supported by Blue Lights of Hope. In addition, money from the pack that would have gone to buy Christmas presents for the scouts was donated to a separate charity. The Christmas party was a big success. I hope we will continue this same spirit of giving in other Pack events.
Often I hear people say, “God doesn’t really speak to me…” Or “Why can’t I have a burning bush like Moses?” Well, I can only speak from my own experience, but God does speak; it is more likely that we are not listening. God used this experience to remind me of something very important. It is not about anything that JILL can ever do or say, coordinate or desire. It is simply about HIS WILL.
I am just an imperfect instrument that God has graciously chosen to use as a part of HIS PERFECT PLAN. I was only a conduit, to move the money from one hand to the other, so to speak. Like many people, I have many times struggled with giving. There can be a fine line in giving prudently and getting caught up in a cycle of worry… where will the money go? How will it be used? How can I know that they are using my money for the right things? The list of worries is endless. Giving freely, without encumbrance, is something that I would guess few people ever experience. Thank you for letting me share in this assignment. It has made me look at giving with a whole new confidence about who is REALLY IN CHARGE!
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