Best Shoes

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV.

A few girls in our neighborhood come by our home frequently. They say they are collecting money to attend school. I don’t think they really go to school, because they are inconsistent with their answers. I know for sure that they don’t have the $10 U.S. per month that school would cost.

There are many rackets, which enlist children to collect money, but the adults keep most of it. We have sponsored and most likely will continue to sponsor children in school, but first we need to have a relationship with the parent and some level of accountability. We do not want to be known as people who hand out money just because we are asked. This would frustrate what we are about. Not to mention that folks here would not see us as generous, but as stupid.

One day these girls asked Cindy*, our 7-year-old, if she could spare any of her shoes. She went to the shoe rack and picked out her best pair. After she gave them cheerfully, another asked if she had any others. Cindy again went to see if she could narrow her collection of the two remaining pair. I stepped in and said that I was sorry, but she could only give away one pair that day. Still, Cindy’s example reminded me that God loves an enthusiastic, extravagant, and cheerful giver.

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will bless the generosity of a 7-year-old MK to reach many children in her community with the gospel.

Wisdom will be given to Pacific Rim personnel as they respond to third-world poverty in a Christ-like manner.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.