[Faith-talk] Faith At the Mall by Tari C. Popp

[Ericka]

Hey Paul I can't remember where I've seen this before but it's a great story and I glad you're reading it as well as sharing here.
Have a wonderful weekend

Ericka 

 from my iPhone 6s

> On Oct 7, 2016, at 11:46 AM, Paul Smith via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Yes, you read that right.  The article you are about to read shows real faith in action.  Read to find out why.
> 
> She was ten years old, going on sixteen, and school was about to begin again.  As was our tradition, I had set aside a day when just Lauren and I would go shopping for school clothes.  We both looked forward to this appointment each year, but lately I had become concerned as I observed her increasing appetite for new things and the latest styles.
> 
> Deciding to be proactive, I helped her make a list of the clothes she needed for school, estimated what I felt each item would cost, and gave her the money to get the job done.  The money was hers.  With my guidance, she was going to spend it on things she needed.
> 
> As we headed to the mall I felt excited about the great learning experience Lauren would have.  I believed I had been fair in deciding her budget, but she would have to think her choices through carefully.  There wasn't any extra for extravagances. And then in the middle of this great parenting moment, I remembered that we had forgotten about tithe.  She hadn't returned tithe on these funds.
> 
> Oh, how I struggled for the next few miles! I didn't think Lauren could find everything for that smaller amount, and I was tempted to remain silent.  Lauren knew she had a limited budget, and I feared she would be upset if I reminded her of her responsibility.  Yet hadn't I wanted this to be an education, and hadn't God abundantly blessed Doug and me as we returned our tithe and offerings over the years? Why shouldn't I let Lauren experience the same?
> 
> I took a deep breath and explained to Lauren what we had both forgotten.  With the simple faith of a child, she quickly concurred and even suggested she add several dollars extra for offering.  Silently I asked God to bless her willing spirit and the money she had left.
> 
> As the day progressed, we were delighted to find pants on sale, shirts marked down, and accessories discounted.  We were finding and agreeing (a blessing in itself) on everything.  Yet one item remained on the list:  church shoes.  I knew there wasn't enough money left for the adult-sized pair she was now requiring.  We went from store to store with no success.
> 
> Finally we headed dejectedly into the last department store.  Knowing Lauren needed these shoes, I pondered the idea that maybe I should supplement her budget by the amount she had set aside for tithe and offerings.  Just then, however, she excitedly interrupted my thoughts and told me she had found some shoes that even I would like! Sure enough, compared to the styles we had seen that day, these looked wonderful.  But what thrilled us even more was the sticker attached to the bottom of the shoes.  We quickly calculated that the 50 percent discount shown there was exactly the amount of money Lauren had left.
> 
> I had wanted Lauren to learn to shop wisely, and she had.  By putting God first, she saw her remaining money used most efficiently and discovered the joy and blessing of becoming a financial partner with God.
> 
> And there you have what I hope was a timely article for today.  And yes, you'd better believe that the foregoing article will be read on both radio programs, that one on cjoyinternetradio.com and also on the Radio Reading Network of Maryland.  Hope it was a blessing for you today.
> 
> Until tomorrow when, Lord willing another timely article will be posted, may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul
> 
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