I thought this story was amazing! Here is an experience Darielle had today.
My work day was becoming very “blah”. I was getting antsy, somewhat bored, didn’t want to go out in the snow but I needed a break. I finally convinced myself to go out because I was indeed hungry and it was about lunch time.
I needed to find an ATM. I went to the closest store near to my job and the ATM was broke. Ugh! It’s too cold. I want to go back inside. I decided to walk across the street to the 7/11. That’s where I spotted Jason. Jason was not like a guy I haven’t seen many times before: sitting outside, on the ground, holding some variation of a “homeless” sign.
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t stop and talk to every person that I see on the street. Especially not in the winter, in the middle of my work day. But I decided to stop for him. (These are moments where I totally give credit to God. I don’t know what convinced me to stop aside from the Spirit of God that’s alive inside. I don’t why I stopped, but I did).
I asked him if there was anything I could get him from inside the 7/11 and all he asked for was an Apple Fritter… AN APPLE FRITTER! I didn’t even know what that was until today. & guess how much that apple fritter costed me; a grand total of $1.94… One single dollar and 94 cents! You’ve gotta really respect someone when you’re offering to give them something without constraint and all they ask you for is worth less than $2.
To make a long story short, I of course got the Apple Fritter, then I tried to use that 7/11 ATM. And guess what?… their ATM was out of order too! I was able to use my debit card and get the cash I needed as change but I thought that in itself was quite interesting. I knew then that my trip wasn’t for the sake of an ATM machine, it was so that I could take an opportunity to share my joy inside.
I told Jason that I stopped for him because God loves him and I wanted him to know that. So much so that He could convince this complete stranger who despises cold weather, has had a “blah” kind of work day and was really only looking for an ATM, to go in and out of a store twice (he originally wanted hot chocolate but the machine was broke) for something worth $1.94.
Jason isn’t too sure what he believes about Jesus and we weren’t really in the predicament, nor did we have the time, for detailed explanations. But Jason did let me pray for him. Pretty much the same thing that I said to him, I said to God. And I prayed that he would become so convinced of God’s love, and that every single day that he’s alive is an opportunity for his life to change. No situation is ever to big for God to change.
The moral of this story? I’m not too sure. I didn’t find a working ATM, and my toes are still a little bit cold, but would I do it again, absolutely. I’d walk farther, wait longer, and pray harder, just to share God’s love and $1.94.
Yet again, My we never be too proud…, or too busy, to stop what we’re doing and share Christ’s love, hope, and salvation, wherever we go.
I may be $1.94 poorer, but that’s the life of a #newagemillionaire.
