A New Shirt

Sally Haack tells the following story:

Last summer one of the local civic clubs of which my husband was a member sponsored a camping trip for underprivileged children. Upon arriving at the camp, each little boy was given a Frisbee and a t-shirt.

When the weekend was over and the boys were boarding the bus to go home, one little boy ran up to my husband and handed him his t-shirt, which was rather soiled and wrinkled but nevertheless neatly folded and placed in its plastic package.

My husband told the boy that the shirt was his, that he could keep it. Big tears welled up in the boy’s eyes as he said, “Thank you. I’ve never had a new shirt before.”

My husband swallowed the lump in his throat and told the boy to be sure to come back next year and he could get another new shirt. The boy thought for a moment, then looked up and said, “No. I don’t think I will come next year.” “Well, why not?” asked my husband. The boy replied, “I think I’ll send my little brother. He’s never had a new shirt either.

What all is currently hanging in your closet? How many pairs of shoes do you own? What’s inside your refrigerator right now? How much food is on the shelves of your pantry or cabinets? Are your bills paid up? Do you have some money in the bank? Then be thankful. Remember that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is still in the Bible:

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (N.K.J.V.)

You see, whatever else might be the specific will of God for your life, I know that it His will for you to be thankful for what you have. So, work on that today.

This entry was posted in Children, Contentment, Desires, Giving, God's Will, God's Work, Thankfulness and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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