I was leaving church today, chasing after my two boys who were heading to the car. Josh had left earlier to catch his flight to Colorado where he is spending a week learning about solar power and other practical skills for our life in Chad.
As I neared the door of the church, a lady appeared seemingly out of nowhere. “Are you the family who is moving to Chad?” she asked. “Yes ma’am,” I replied, and quickly excused myself to pull Isaac back in the door before he ran into the parking lot alone. The lady continued with tears filling her eyes and the sweetest expression on her face. “I have something for you. I am visiting here today and heard your story, how you are raising money for a vehicle.” She opened my hand and started to place something in it. “I don’t know how much this is worth,” she continued, “but I want you to have it.” I was at a loss for words and slightly confused. I couldn’t yet feel what she was placing in my hand until several moments later. It was a ring. I thanked her profusely and asked her if she would please give me her contact information so I could thank her properly. She declined, then turned and walked away with a smile on her face, but tears still in her eyes.
After I got the boys to the car, I took a look at the 14 carat gold ring. It has seven diamonds around the top. I couldn’t believe it. Like this lady, I have no idea the monetary value of the ring, but surely there is an added sentimental value as well. I imagine, as with most pieces of jewelry, there is some story attached to this ring. It’s a mystery to me what it might be, and I guess it doesn’t matter that much. But this lady’s generosity today served as a beautiful lesson and challenge to me.
The challenge is this: how easily and joyfully this lady parted with a seemingly treasured possession. She knows how to hold earthly things loosely and store treasures in Heaven. Sometimes people think that Josh and I have learned this lesson, since we’ve given up our home and many of our possessions in order to move to Africa, but it doesn’t mean it’s been easy for us to give them all up. We still miss our comfy furniture, our dog, our screened-patio and nice yard, etc. etc. Sometimes I have been less than joyful in the process of “giving up” my possessions for this move. This woman’s actions today challenge me to be willing to joyfully part with those possessions to which my heart might be most attached.
Next, I can’t help but feel blessed as I think of my encounter with this woman. God reminds me that He loves me and He is the provider of all our needs. Many people wonder how we can go to the mission field by raising our own support. “I couldn’t do it if I had to raise my own support,” many have said. In response, I say it has been an immense joy and blessing to share in this ministry personally with many of you! We have been so encouraged to know that other people and families are sacrificing in different ways so that the gospel of Jesus may go forth to dark, unreached places. It reminds us that we are not doing this alone and it is not “our” work. It is the Lord’s work and He allows us all to play different parts. We couldn’t do this, take the gospel to those who have not heard, if it weren’t for people like you who are “holding the ropes” for us through prayer, encouragement, and financial support.
I thank the Lord, tonight, for the sometimes strange and mysterious ways in which He works in order to remind us of His goodness and faithfulness.
(a picture of the ring will come asap!)