The Bible Book :)

Now that photography has slowed down I think I will have time to revisit this little page. I miss it! But I am mindful to not replace one thing that overwhelmed my life with another :) BALANCE IS KEY!

But I wanted to share a story. 

One that made my heart melt.

this story is for my little girl! My little Helper! 

Throughout the day I always find a way to bring up Jesus and how he would do things, HA, ya know, 

What Would Jesus Do? WWJD!

Anywho, a couple of weeks ago we were going to a friend's bridal shower and we approached a stop light. It was windy and maybe a bit sprinkly...We have been having these days where it just mists all day, Not good for the hair. Well a man was standing on the corner to my left holding a sign asking for help.. money, you know.. 

[NOTE: Now if you have known me for any amount of time you know I will just give money away left and right. Since I have been married I have become more concious because my husband was like "no" (once when I tipped the oil change guys...do you tip the oil change guys?? I do.) And I always tipped like 50% of any restaurant bill..used to be a server...and that's just what you do. Always tip sonic car hops if you have them come to your car...basically tip anyone that does anything for you... and give money to anyone that asks...(Why because it does not matter what they use it for...it is that you sacrificed in someone's need. It is not up to you to judge their situation.) And now that I think of it, since being married and being "called out" I feel a little more concious of giving money in front of other people. I feel weird like I will be judged... WHY? 

Ok, right now I have been convicted and will no longer care what people will think! 

But also Matthew 6:3-4 remains important to me.

³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4]

Ok, so back to the story...

He was wearing a camoflouge jacket, a black tshirt, dark colored pants, and very old shoes. He buried himself into the wall; shielding himself from the wind and mist. He was shrugged over, cold, maybe. He held the little cardboard sign right in front of his torso. Not proudly but almost shamefully. I don't remember what it said. But I asked Layla, "you see that man" she was already looking at him. "He looks sad," she said. Should we give him money. "Yes." I happened to have $2 sitting right by the gear shifter (this never happens, I almost never have cash) I called him over.

He was wearing a hat but I could see his face. i can still see him.. He had a beard, not too long, it wasn't kept so it was kinda mangled. His face had seen many years and the wrinkles on his face showed sadness and hurt. He approached the car; his face was dirty, his eyes were warm and broken. I gave him the money and  he said, "thank you and God bless you, and I don't drink" to which I replied "your welcome, it's ok". As if saying it's ok if you do. And we drove away. 

I asked Layla, do you know why we gave money to the man..."because he was sad" well yes, and "Jesus says we have to help people. We have to help people if they are sad and if they need help for shoes, if they need food we have to give them money so they can go buy some." i am explaining this to a 3 year old you know, so that was the easiest way to explain it. I told her some people don't have money to buy this and that and on. And that was it....

Till a week or so later... She said her cousin has a Bible book and she wants one. I said Layla you have one, I will show you when we get home. 

When I gave her the "Bible book" she was so excited that it was pink and had a pretty ribbon to hold..That in itself warmed my heart...

But then she opened it and started pretending to read.....

"And then money gave money to the man. He was sad. Jesus said we have to help people, so we gave him money and mommy was very very nice. The man needs shoes, and pants and mommy was very very nice."

MELT!!!

1. your children know

2. your children do understand

Matthew 25:35-40

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,^[a] you did it to me.’

Matthew 5:42 ESV 

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 

Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. 

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV 

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

It's not that I gave him $2 or even that I gave him money. I can still see his face and I know that its that I didn't turn the other cheek that serves as a good model to Layla. It also serves as a model to the man that there is still good in the world, whatever world broke him. Not through me, but through people serving God, and that God is still sending people to help him no matter what "bad" things have gone wrong. He will never leave you and never forsake you.
 
Layla, you will be a Great woman one day, and I pray that you continue to have a soft heart for those in need.