The Grateful Blessing(A Story For Thanksgiving)
It had been a trying year. Retirement had not brought the golden years that are promised. Her husband, Bill, had faced heart problems. And although his health was now great again, the medical costs had eaten away at their retirement nest egg. What had once been envisioned as a time of travel and enjoyment, had now become a time of budgets and counting pennies.
But through it all, she was grateful. The love of her life was still with her, and every dollar in the world come not bring her the happiness she found each day as she looked into his eyes. But today, the budget was on her mind. It was now Thanksgiving week, and everyone in the family would soon be coming to her house. She loved each minute her children were there, and every second of hearing her grandchildren running through the house. But she worried today about how she would pay for it all. How could she possibly stretch the dollars far enough to fill the stomachs of all who would soon be sitting at her table?
As she headed out the door, on her way to shop for all the groceries she would need, she made sure her coupon pouch was in hand. But as she opened the door, she heard the voice of her husband calling, “Are you going to the store?”
“I was heading there now.”, she quickly replied. “Did you need something?”
“Sue, there is a family I heard about at Bible study yesterday. A family that has fallen hard on their luck, and all six of their young kids are not going to be able to have a Thanksgiving this year.”, he quickly told her.
“What did you have in mind, Bill?”
“I know we cannot afford a lot, but while you are at the store, do you think you could buy something for them Sue? I cannot quit thinking about that family having to do without. More than anything this year, my prayers are for their family. I so wish that family could have a Thanksgiving dinner.”
“I will see what I can do Bill.”, was all she could think to say.
As she arrived at the store, she could not get the family out of her mind either. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not figure out how she could buy much for them with her budget. The few dollars she had could only be stretched so far. As she exited her car, she said a prayer, asking the Lord to show her a way.
As she grabbed her shopping cart, she saw an ad on the wall. “Today only! Turkey half price!”. So with the discount of the coupon she already had, she knew that she could at least get a turkey for the family. But as she got to the cooler the turkeys were in, she soon discovered one problem. In small print, at the bottom of the ad, were the dreaded words, Limit One Per Customer. Just as she thought her heart would drop, she saw a manager and explained her situation. He asked her to wait for a second, while he returned with a solution. Soon she saw him pushing a second cart, and he told her to put one in each and to see him as she checked out.
As she tossed a turkey in each cart, she soon found herself pushing one cart and pulling another. As she made her way down the aisles, she was amazed as just how many items she needed were buy one, get one free. So with each, she would place one of the items in her cart, and them toss the other one in the cart she had started for the family. And as she looked over her coupons, she was amazed as just how many she had. Some that she never remembered clipping, but was able to use nonetheless. And if her coupons were not enough, she soon found that pushing two carts had drawn the attention of others in the store. Others that also had coupons, and also wanted to help. One man, who had heard her talking to another woman, brought a container of cranberry sauce, and a large package of dinner rolls. He handed her both, and the money to pay for each. “It is just not Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce and rolls”, is all he said, with the biggest of smiles on his face.
As she reached the checkout, she looked at both of her two carts. Seeing how full each now looked, she again became concerned, wondering if she had overdone it. As each item was rang up, she watched the total rise. And then with each coupon, she watched as it fell again. When all was totaled, and the bill was paid, she had exactly one dollar left. And as she made her way out of the store, she saw a stand collecting funds for the children’s hospital. Without even thinking twice, she knew exactly where that last dollar had to go. And as she filled her car with the groceries, a smile came to her face. A smile that just would not go away. A smile that stayed on her face the rest of the day.
The next morning, Bill and Sue made a very special delivery to a house that was not to far away. As they pulled into the drive, they were quickly greeted by eight smiling faces. And with eight smiling faces, came eight sets of hands. Two grown set of hands, that would not let Bill and Sue lift a single bag. And six small sets of hands, that could not hug them enough. And as Sue looked into the face of a fellow mother, see only saw eyes that were so filled with tears of joy, that her mouth could not find the words to thank Sue enough.
A day later, Sue, Bill, and their whole family gathered at their house for Thanksgiving. And as the whole family gathered around the table to pray, Sue decided she wanted to start a new Thanksgiving tradition. She picked up her Bible, and turned the pages to John, chapter six, and began to read the story of how Christ had taken five loaves of bread and two fish, and feed a crowd of five thousand. And as she finished reading the story, she shared with her family the events of the last couple of days.
As Sue looked at the faces of the precious members of her family, all sitting around the table sharing a meal, her mind wandered to another house not so far away. And in her mind she pictured another family, a family of eight just as precious faces, also sharing a meal. It was at that moment that Sue realized what the word blessing truly meant. When we are willing to step out on faith, God steps in, and the blessings begin to flow. Blessings that are far more precious, far greater filling of the mind, than all our worries and concerns. And as the familiar smile came again to Sue’s face, she realized that she would be “stepping out” a lot more often.
This Thanksgiving, step out on faith. And watch the Lord step in with the most amazing of blessings!
Dr. Mike Murphy
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