A friend of mine’s son, Wes, is a very enterprising young man. While still in high school he
started many “revenue streams” such as baking cupcakes or picking up Chick-Fil-A chicken
biscuits before school to then sell to fellow students for a profit. Perhaps his most lucrative
endeavor was what one might call “personal banking.” Students were given money by parents
to use in the school’s vending machines, but often only had $10’s or $20’s while the machines
only accepted coins or $1’s. Wes would show up with a bunch of $1’s and patrons would trade
their large bills for the $1’s for an agreed upon exchange rate that would result in a gain of a few
dollars for each exchange for Wes and a loss for the customer. The rate would vary, with friends
(and pretty girls) getting a better “deal” (which still did not equal the face value of whatever bill
they were trading in). Wes also noticed that friends would complain about having to carry
around the coins that the vending machines would dispense with each snack or drink they
bought, so he provided a service where they could give their change to him. He just started
asking friends if they had any loose change they didn’t want, and they would only too happily
give their coins to him to keep. His reputation as ‘bearer of change’ grew until even random kids
would foist their coins on him, unburdening themselves from their load of inconvenience.
The question begs to be asked: why would so many kids just give away money like that? I’m
sure we could come up with several reasons, but I think the most obvious answer is that they
gave away their change because they didn’t understand its value and didn’t value the generosity
of its source, their parents. Isn’t that often how we view change, albeit change of a different
sort? This year has seen many changes, and a lot of them have been both inconvenient and
burdensome. If you are like me, you have spent a lot of time this year hoping for a return to “normal.”
We want to give away this change. We don’t want to carry it around anymore. But what if we
had an understanding that it had more value than we currently see? What if its source is actually
a good and generous Father? Consider these words from the first chapter in James:
- Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (v2-4)
- Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised those who love him. (v12)
- Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (v16-17)
A lot of the change we have experienced this year has been a trial. Yet we can count it all joy,
knowing it comes from our heavenly Father to produce good for us that can never be taken
away. His steadfast love never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. We can rejoice.
– Joy
Real Moms. Real Life. 