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THERE
IS ALWAYS A REASON TO GIVE Since
Uncle Sam invaded Iraq, the United States and France have been at odds.
During the height of that animosity, some folk refused to eat
French Fries. Things were
different during the American Revolution (1745-1783).
A productive alliance developed between the two countries.
France was so grateful for American assistance that she gave
America the Statue of Liberty. The
people of France donated the money. From
1886 to 2004, Lady Liberty has been an important symbol of welcome and
freedom for America.
Growing
up, money was in short supply. No
college nest egg existed. But
God, hard work, loans, campus work study, and gifts from my local church
produced a graduate. At one
critical juncture, I needed $75 dollars to go forward.
Mother borrowed the money from Dr. McDonald, the only
African-American physician in town. He
was a member of our church. I
promised to pay him back. When
that time arrived, yours truly rushed over to Dr. McDonald’s office to
pay him. He refused to take
the money. I was speechless!! Then, he charged me to do the same for others.
That day, Dr. McDonald gave me two gifts.
First, he lived out a model of giving.
Second, an unanticipated $75 was added to the education “pot.”
I will always remember Dr. McDonald for that act of kindness.
Because of it, I have given to others many times over. March 1975, I spent three weeks and day in Searle Hall, the campus of Northwestern University. Dr. X said I had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). For a good six months, I was unable to attend doctoral classes, pastor my church, drive a car, or care for the kids while Beverly worked. Dr. X helped me get well. It took a year. When Dr. X released me, I thanked him profusely. Because Dr. X had been the instrument of God’s healing power, I wanted to do more than say thank you. Money (of which I had very little) seemed to be an appropriate gift. He politely refused to take credit for my healing or the gift of money. A power greater than him had saved me from a complete loss of health, God. I have lost track of Dr. X. Yet, the memory of his healing work on God’s behalf has continued. If the people of God base their giving on what God has done for them and is doing for humankind, there is always a reason to give. “Am I naïve?” “No.” Do adverse actions affect giving? “Yes.” In the France versus United States narrative above, this is a reality. In the church, we see evidence of the same phenomena. How radically different is the God we serve. Seldom, does God give back to God’s people on the basis of our sin. Good or bad, we receive blessings from God continually. Call it amazing grace. Of it, the church has too little. I never run out of reasons to give of my prayers, presence, gifts and service. Even now, my heart is full as I think about words of a song I love “The Lord is blessing me right now, oh right now”. God’s goodness is the basis of my giving not human faults and failures. But, this is my story. To my friends in the Michigan Area, join me in an affirmative response to Malachi 3:10-12 and rejoice. God bless you. |
Advocate
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