[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Thursday, July 17, 2014

[Paul]

Another hearty and warm hello to all my readers, or at least most of them.  I hope that, by God's matchless grace and His providential care, that you are all doing well today.

Melody L. Clingan is an author from the Sunflower State of Kansas, and today she presents to us a reminiscent article entitled "Empty Soda Bottles," rendered as follows:

Remember when glass soda bottles were recycled and you could return the empties to the store and get your deposit back? To a lot of people it was a nuisance, and they simply threw the bottle out the car window when they were done with it.  But for us, with Dad unemployed and Mom only working part time, finding those bottles was like picking up loose change.

That's why most days, after school, my brother and I would go pop-bottle hunting until we found twelve bottles each.  At 3 cents apiece for the regular sized ones and 5 cents for the larger ones, a mix of twenty-four bottles would bring in would bring in about 75 cents to a dollar.  Back in the early '60's, that would buy a loaf of bread, five pounds of potatoes, four sticks of butter, and a small bag of pinto beans.  On a good day, you could even squeeze in a candy bar or a pack of gum to share.

We had been walking for about two hours and it was getting near dusk.  Squinting my eyes against the afternoon sun had given me a headache and I was glad it was no longer beating down on me.

"Hey!" my brother shouted from across the street.  "I just found two bottles right here together.  That makes twelve for me, brat.  I'm going home." Jeering and making faces, he took off the other direction and left me there by myself."

"Just my luck," I mumbled to myself.  Once again I had picked the wrong side of the street.  I only needed one more bottle and I would be headed home, too.

Slapping at a mosquito on my leg, I wiped my hand on my sweaty shirt and walked on.  The locusts were getting louder and I was getting madder.  I swear they took their cue from my brother and were taunting me, laughing.  Tired and hungry, I began to cry.

Walking awkwardly on a sloping embankment I prayed to God to please help me find one last pop bottle before it got dark.  It was then that I fell.  Brushing myself off, I turned to see what I had tripped over.  Staring in disbelief, I realized it was a green soda bottle sticking part way out of the dirt.  Digging that bottle out of the ground was like opening a gift.  You already knew what it was but you just couldn't wait to get your hands on it.  I was suddenly filled with joy at my good fortune.  Using my shirt, I wiped the dirt off the bottle and dumped the dead spider out of it.  Shoving it in an old pillow case with the others I walked home a true believer in the power of prayer.

Many times over the years I have thought about that childhood incident (green pop bottles always seem to bring it to mind).  Did God answer my prayer that day or was it just a coincidence? In my heart I have no doubt God was telling me that He is there for us.  And when we slip and fall we should look around.  He just might be trying to show us something.

And there from last year is a repetition of an article.  Again, some of you have never read it before, and it is for you that I have resent it.

To those of you outside North America, did you have a time when soft drink, soda or pop bottles were recycled, and if so, did you get a small amount of money when you returned them to the store? Being a curious guy, I'd like to know.  Thanks for any answers to this queery.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought message.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul