Miracles and Wonders
The Generosity of a stranger
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Debbie works as a teller at a branch bank in a small town that has seen some pretty
rough times lately. One of the town's major employers has shut down and a lot of
people lost their jobs. In that type of environment you might think that people would
turn inward and focus on their own problems, instead of worrying about others. But we
haven't seen that attitude. So many people have asked about Debbie when they stop by
the bank, or signed the big get well card that the other tellers set up. A few have even
sent personal cards or letters of encouragement. And I'm not talking about friends from
the bank, but just regular customers who she talks to for about 30 seconds a couple of
times a month while she is handling their transaction. These simple acts of kindness
really helped to keep Debbie's spirits up, but one in particular touched me.
After Debbie had been on leave for a couple of weeks, an older customer comes into
the bank to cash her monthly check. All of the tellers know that she is on a fixed
income and that after she pays her rent and a few other bills she is left with next to
nothing to live on for the month. This time when she received her cash, she stopped,
pulled out a twenty dollar bill and told the teller "I don't know if you are taking up a
collection for Debbie, but this is for her." This woman doesn't know us, she doesn't
know anything about our expenses or our finances, but still she tried to give us a
substantial fraction of her monthly income because we might need help.
I try to be a generous person, but I know that I am always just giving money that I can
spare. This lady was offering money that she needed for food or medicine or other
basic needs, and she was offering it to someone who was almost a complete stranger.
It was the most kind and generous thing that I have ever heard about, and it reminded
me that the world is a wondrous place even in difficult times.
This story reminds me of this passage from Mark chapter 12:
rough times lately. One of the town's major employers has shut down and a lot of
people lost their jobs. In that type of environment you might think that people would
turn inward and focus on their own problems, instead of worrying about others. But we
haven't seen that attitude. So many people have asked about Debbie when they stop by
the bank, or signed the big get well card that the other tellers set up. A few have even
sent personal cards or letters of encouragement. And I'm not talking about friends from
the bank, but just regular customers who she talks to for about 30 seconds a couple of
times a month while she is handling their transaction. These simple acts of kindness
really helped to keep Debbie's spirits up, but one in particular touched me.
After Debbie had been on leave for a couple of weeks, an older customer comes into
the bank to cash her monthly check. All of the tellers know that she is on a fixed
income and that after she pays her rent and a few other bills she is left with next to
nothing to live on for the month. This time when she received her cash, she stopped,
pulled out a twenty dollar bill and told the teller "I don't know if you are taking up a
collection for Debbie, but this is for her." This woman doesn't know us, she doesn't
know anything about our expenses or our finances, but still she tried to give us a
substantial fraction of her monthly income because we might need help.
I try to be a generous person, but I know that I am always just giving money that I can
spare. This lady was offering money that she needed for food or medicine or other
basic needs, and she was offering it to someone who was almost a complete stranger.
It was the most kind and generous thing that I have ever heard about, and it reminded
me that the world is a wondrous place even in difficult times.
This story reminds me of this passage from Mark chapter 12:
- The Widow's Offering
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched
the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw
in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper
coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow
has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their
wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."