2 Corinthians 9:7

I saw a sad look on Amanda’s face as she scrabbled around in her small purse. I knew what she was doing, and had to restrain myself from giving her the money to give to the elderly gentleman. She wanted to use her own money, so I squashed my motherly instincts. She left her cart in line, and walked a short distance behind the man, where she dropped the rolled up one dollar bills to the floor. My heart and eyes filled as she gently tapped him on the shoulder and pointed the money out to him. As he joyfully scooped up the money, I could read his lips telling Amanda “God bless you.” My daughter sweetly shook her head no. She smiled up at him, said a few words, and then skipped back to her cart.

I pretended to be busy with my checkbook as I quickly wiped my eyes. Once back in our car and heading home, Amanda shyly related the story of how she had noticed the man looking at the cookies in the store. He had counted the change in his pocket then put the cookies he wanted to buy back on the shelf. She said, “Mom, I knew he was hungry and he seemed sort of confused. I didn’t want him to be hungry.” “So, did you give him some money or buy him some food?” I asked her.

My little angel replied, “No, Mama. I didn’t want him to be embarrassed that I thought he was poor, so I told him I found some money on the floor, and that I thought it was his. He said, ‘God bless you,’ and I really do feel blessed. Then I showed him the bananas on sale.”

This little “random act of ‘kindness’” from my own child will continue to bless me for many years to come.

Angie Ledbetter, Author of Seeds of Faith.