Disciples of Christ

Last night the kids and I were driving home after a great birthday party with some dear friends in Orlando.  I needed some crackers and oatmeal at the store before Sunday, so we stopped by Walmart on the way home.  It was about 10:30 at night.  My 2 youngest children were sleeping in their car seats, so I sent Jackson and Tyson into the store with $7 in bills and $2 in change.  I figured that would be enough.

After about 20 minutes the boys came running out with their 2 boxes of crackers and 2 boxes of oatmeal and big grins on their faces.  

According to Jackson, this is what happened in the store:

"We were at the check-out, and we didn't have enough money for the items we were buying.   Tyson was about to go out to get some money from my mom, but a man behind us overheard us and asked, 'How much do you need?'  We said we only need like 3 or 4 dollars, but that we would go get it from our mom.  Then he said, 'Don't worry; I'll pay for it.'  He put $4 on the counter!  We both thanked him.  

Then we went back out to the car and told my mom about the nice man.  My mom wanted to thank him too and give him some money back.  When we saw him walking to his car, I ran the money over to him.  As I tried to give him the money he said, 'No, that's ok….  Jesus loves you.'  

It made me really happy that he said that Jesus loves me and that he was so kind.  It made me know that he was a spiritual man and that I want to be kind and put others before me."

I watched this generous man walk out of Walmart, and I saw that he was with his own son about the same age as my boys.  I couldn't help but ponder on the lifelong lesson of service this man also gave his own son in that moment of generosity.  

What a beautiful response that he also made sure my boys knew his gift was really a gift from JESUS! 

 Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Oh… it makes me cry right now thinking about how many wonderful people there are in the world trying so hard to be like Jesus.

I have another dear friend who touched me by her generosity because of Jesus' love.

A couple of months ago I went to her house for her daughter's birthday party.  While we were there, she offered to give me two AMAZING bunk beds that they didn't need anymore.  We gladly accepted them.  She and her boyfriend hooked a trailer onto my van and packed the beds up with some mattresses right then and there!  I know my friend and her boyfriend could have gotten some good money for these beds, so I've tried to pay for little things for her here and there as a thank you.

One bunk bed has a bed on the very top and a pullout bed on the very bottom with a cute little nook around the back of it with drawers and a desk all attached.  My children have loved using it for quiet, reading and school time, and we're also grateful to have a couple extra beds for visitors.  (We had lost our extra couch/pull-out bed that we brought from Michigan because mold formed on it while it sat in storage.)

The other bunk bed is made out of logs, and it matches our other log furniture perfectly.  

(Jackson and Tyson are actually sleeping in their beds for this picture. :-))

The bed with the nook didn't need box spring mattresses, but the log bed did need them.  We had one for the bottom bunk, but Jordan has been sleeping on his top bunk with just the mattress.  It's a little lumpy, but he loves his log bed.  However, when Jordan rolls over too far, the mattress squishes between the cross boards, and he goes rolling off the edge like a slide.  Several times, I've heard a loud thump in the middle of the night, and I have found Jordan sprawled out on the floor.  (It must not hurt him too badly because sometimes he doesn't even wake up from the fall!!)  

My friend didn't know we were needing a box spring for one of the beds; but last week, she sent me a random text to see if I needed one.  (She and her boyfriend do business trades and end up with lots of random treasures :-))  I told her Jordan would love it for his bed!  (Jordan was cheering with excitement to not fall out of his bed anymore. :-))  I sent her a text and told her I would add it to my tab.  

This was her beautiful response via text:

"Lol, tab, u silly.  Just paying it forward for all those who have helped me!  We are blessed cuz we bless each other- that's the beauty of the brother and sisterhood we enjoy in our lives!  It really does bring so much joy."

Wasn't that beautifully put?  She's absolutely right.  There is truly a great brotherhood and sisterhood when we generously bring Christ's love to those around us.  That love is what changes us.  That love is what inspires us.  That love is what makes this world a better place… 

Jesus loves you… Jesus loves me… Jesus loves everyone- even those who do not yet know HIM.  I am grateful for the disciples of Christ whom we encounter all over this beautiful world, and I'm grateful they choose to spread Jesus' pure love.