MIRACLE OF TITHING!

I feel compelled to write about a BEAUTIFUL experience that took place at the same time period as my previous post entitled, "My Gymnastics Miracle."

Let me start by explaining briefly that we were in a time of deep financial struggle.   Abe had to take a very low paying job at a call center, and I was scrambling for ways to make an extra dollar here and there.

I made the kids a lot of egg sandwiches with home-made bread because that was all I could afford.  Sometimes Abe's boss and co-workers at the call-center would buy cookies from me at a dollar a bag.  Abe was so cute to make a sign and walk up to each of his co-workers enticing them to buy my treats.

Once, Abe's boss bought 2 trays of cinnamon rolls from me for a team meeting at $20.00 a tray!!  That was a very happy day.  I hugged his boss the next time I saw him because I knew he was trying to help our family. :-)

...but that was only the beginning.  God had an even bigger miracle in store.

One afternoon, I was standing in the driveway watching the children as they played in the cul-de-sac.  As I stood there, a big car and another smaller car pulled up blocking our driveway.  They were obviously there to see us.  I recognized one of the drivers as someone I had met only once before.  He informed me that he was merely delivering something from an anonymous giver.   Both of the vehicles were filled to the brim with boxes!

After his announcement, he and his helper opened the doors to the vehicles and began unloading boxes and buckets of food storage and school supplies!!  They asked which way they should take them.  I was in complete and utter shock!!  I thought, "Which way?  Is this really happening?"

I was so overwhelmed by shock that all I remember is a commotion of excited neighbors jumping in to help.  It was so exciting!!  People were rushing up our driveway, through our garage, and into our kitchen, then running back for more.  I cried and cried and cried and expressed immense gratitude!  Abe's face was priceless when he came home to a bunch of friends and mere acquaintances carrying food into our house.  He too was overcome with gratitude.

... but we soon encountered a problem. 

Our cupboards and large food storage room were full, and they were bringing even more food into the house!  Of course that was the best "problem" ever!!!  As I excitedly made room for the food in other areas of the house, the scripture in Malachi flashed very clearly into my mind... "there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Malachi 3:10

 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Here I was trying to find room to receive this abundance of food just as the Lord had promised- I couldn't believe the faith that filled my heart!

We had always paid 10% of all that we had earned to tithing even when we had no extra money for anything else.  We had gone through months of financial hardship and this experience was important for us to understand the literal nature of God's promised blessings from paying tithing.  

I was told that the anonymous givers didn't know our family very well nor the severity of our financial situation.  They had prayed and pondered for quite some time about where all this food should go. They were planning on dividing it up among a few families; but in the end, they were guided to give our family all of the food.   

What an amazing, generous family who followed the promptings from our amazing, generous God!!

Our Lord is so generous in HIS promised blessings.  This temporal blessing of food answered both a spiritual and a physical need for our family.  It is not always in food/money that the blessings are poured out.  Many times those blessings are spiritual... maybe they come as increased love in the home or maybe in increased abilities to overcome weaknesses or addictions.  

I testify of the greatness of God's love for each of us.  I testify that our Savior is very aware of us.  He will pour out the blessings that we need in order to come closer to HIM.  Paying tithing is a very small price to pay to receive the blessings that HE promises to deliver.