جعانين وأكلِنا في الشارع

We were hungry and our food is in the streets

This girl, due to her particular circumstances, lived with her grandmother who was connected to the church and its holy sacraments. The grandmother loved Christ, which was evident in her prayers. The granddaughter always heard these prayers and learned how to love God and talk with Him.

The grandmother loved people, especially those in need, and was sure to help anyone who asked her or whom she felt needed help. The granddaughter observed this with admiration and learned a lot from her.

One day, the grandmother went to the market to buy some household necessities. When she returned home, she was surprised that she had lost her wallet. She went back to search for it and ask around but couldn’t find it. She was saddened but lifted her heart in prayer, asking God to manage her affairs. All of this was observed by her granddaughter, who was silent and joined her grandmother in prayer to God.

At that time, the grandmother only had five pounds. Her son used to send them money every month for support, but he was late sending anything that month.

The grandmother opened the wardrobe to take out the five-pound note, then asked her granddaughter to go to a nearby market to buy ten eggs and a quarter kilo of lentils. The child was happy as she looked forward to eating her favorite food that she loved. So she went, bought the eggs and lentils, and returned quickly to her grandmother.

The grandmother cooked the lentils and boiled the eggs, while the child sat quietly, inhaling the beautiful aromas of the food. After the grandmother prepared the food, she wrapped it, and the child was surprised to see her grandmother go out into the street with the food. When she returned, the child asked her grandmother:

“Where is the food you made for us to eat?”

The grandmother replied:

“That food was for our needy brothers in the street, they need to eat because they have nothing.”

The child asked:

“Then what will we eat, grandma?”

The grandmother answered:

“Don’t worry, God will send us food.”

The child was amazed but remained silent, then she and her grandmother went to sleep hungry.

After sleeping for a while, they were awakened by a knock at the door. The grandmother opened the door and found a friend of her son – standing there, he said to her:

“Please accept this. Your son has sent you this food and this money.”

The grandmother thanked him, closed the door and turned to her granddaughter, and said to her:

“Come, my dear, eat from what God has sent us, and there is also plenty of money so we can buy what we need.”

The child was very happy, and sat with her grandmother and they prayed, thanking God and then they ate with much joy. The grandmother said to her granddaughter:

“’My daughter, there is a beautiful saying: “A piece of bread wards off misery” which means, my daughter, God wards off hardship and protects those who give to the poor.”

The child was silent, marveling at the work of God, and the importance of giving took root in her heart. Only minutes passed, and they heard a knock on the door. The grandmother went to open the door and found a young boy from the market, presenting her wallet saying to her:

“I am sorry, I was late because I didn’t know your address, ma’am. Here is your wallet with everything in it.”

The grandmother and granddaughter’s gratitude increased, and the child was reassured of God’s care and his love for those who help the poor.

As you feel God’s care for you and His satisfying your needs, your heart soars with thanks, and you love to please Him by giving to the needy and helping them.

And if you believe in the words of Christ who said, ‘Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’ (Matthew 25:40), your tendency to give will increase even from your own need. Give to the needy before your own needs and be assured that God’s blessings will increase for you, sufficing and encouraging you.

From “Your care surpasses all understanding” Part Nine

The salary does not suffice

There was a man who was the head of an average family. He found that his salary was not enough to meet the family’s needs and thus he did not pay his tithes.

His wife tried to convince him to pay tithes so that they might receive a blessing from God in their home, but he refused. Considering his wife illogical, he said to her: ‘If the salary is not enough as it is, what would happen if we cut a part of it for tithing?’

The wife asked their priest to convince him, but he strongly refused, sticking to his logic. This saddened the wife, and she prayed for God to change her husband’s mind.

Days passed and the family’s financial situation worsened as the salary could no longer meet the basic needs of the family. The demands became numerous, and the father could not meet them. He thought to himself: ‘How long shall I resist? Perhaps this is the voice of God to me,’ and he agreed to start paying his tithes.

Several months passed and then the husband went to the priest and said to him: ‘I cannot describe to you the blessings we are enjoying since we started paying our tithes. I now feel that my salary has become sufficient for us. As an simple example, the stove gas cylinder we use daily lasted us six months!’

God is rich and does not need your gifts, but in His love, He wants to give you the blessing of giving to overflow on you with His mercies, for He gives you more than you give and fills your heart with peace and tranquility.

By giving tithes, you declare your faith in God and His significance in your life. He is the first person in the house to reach out to the food to bless. He blesses  everything in the house, and the tithes make you feel the presence of God with you in your daily life.

Giving alms helps you empathize with your needy brethren. It gives you a connection to the church and the feeling you are not alone. Giving removes from you all sense of separation and gathers intercessors who pray for you to God.

A true story from the book: “Together Every Day”: Part One.

A verse to remember

✝ “Their Redeemer is strong; The Lord of hosts is His name.” (Jeremiah 50:34)