The store we walked to.
About 2 weeks prior to my trip to Mexico my middle daughter Morgan and I somehow got on the topic of how most of the world lives. We talked about how little they have, not just toys and material things, but little food and limited options they have. I can remember having this conversation and thanking God for this moment, not just because I was “telling” her about it, but because she was engaged, interested and kept asking questions. I still remember being in Old Navy and Morgan telling me that when she grew up she wanted to help people that didn’t have much. I almost broke down and cried right there.
On the way home that afternoon Morgan proceeded to tell me that she was going to save her money to give to me so that I could take it with me to Mexico and right before I left she handed me a zip lock bag of $2.25 and I told her I would be praying for how God to give me an opportunity to give it away and I would let her know what happened.
Now before I say what happened I first need to be honest with some of my thoughts… A few days in I realized I hadn’t given the money away and I started thinking about what “I” could do with it, I knew I needed to tell Morgan what happened with it. I was starting to wonder if there would be an opportunity and then my flesh started getting in the way… I mean it’s just $2.25, what could “I” possibly do with that to make a difference? The truth is “I” can’t do much with it… But God can.
Yesterday we were working at a children’s home and at one point Tim asked me to go to this little store right outside the children’s home, so I went with two other ladies (Cindy Anderson and Erin Kuntz) and none of us really speak much spanish. Anyway we bought 25 pepsi products to give to the team and I gave her a tip and we came back to hand out the pepsi. We ended up handing out some to the care takers as well and realized that we need to buy a few extra’s, so Erin went back up to buy a few more and when she came back she had 20 pesos left and I told her to go back and give it to the lady working. I’ll be honest… I didn’t even have Morgan’s money on my mind…
So when Erin came back I asked how it went and she proceeded to tell me this. It turns out the this lady, the owner of the store has a daughter (whom I met when purchasing the original 25) that just graduated from kindergarden and they were going to her graduation party that afternoon and they didn’t have any money to buy anything, but now with the money she just received she does. She mentioned that with that money they would now be able to buy a desert to celebrate her daughter’s graduation.
Again I wasn’t thinking about Morgan’s money… That was until Erin said “Now you have given away the money Morgan gave you”. Wow! I couldn’t believe it… 20 pesos is a little over $2 (give or take depending on where you buy something) and it was then that God reminded me of the theme of this trip. “It’s easy to miss Me (God)”.
I am so grateful that God moves even when I doubt, even when I don’t see it at first, even if I never see it. I’m still overwhelmed that God used my little girls $2.25 in such a BIG way and it again hits home that it is so easy to miss what God can and will do, even when we think we have so little to offer. The disciples thought Jesus was crazy when He asked for the 2 fish and 5 loaves to feed the 5,000+ and I thought it was crazy that He could use $2.25 in a big way.
God thank you for moving in my life in spite of me and thank you for the truth that it is so easy to miss You. My prayer is that I continue to look for you in everything, I pray that my daughters, wife, family and friends look for you in everything, because I know how easy it is to miss what You are doing in our lives.
I couldn’t be more proud of my daughter Morgan, who had more faith than me that God would use $2.25 to bless someone in a big way.
Thank you Jesus!
Andy Rainey
