Last Monday morning I sent the Stonebridge Newsletter and then got the family together to get bagels and coffee. We drove to Grand Blanc and tried to decide between Panera Bread and Big Apple Bagel. I said; “Wes, why don’t you decide where you want to get bagels?”
He chose Big Apple. We stopped there and horsed around in the parking lot for a few minutes. When we got in and ordered the bill was a little higher than I expected, but the clerk did not take my money. She held up a 100.00 bill and said, “I’ll just take it out of this.”
“Where did you get that?” I said.
“O, we just had extra money sitting around here.”
I looked at her with puzzlement and said, “It’s not mine. Where did you get it?”
She nodded in the direction of the dining room. There was a young man sitting there working on is laptop computer. I walked over to thank him. He said; “I just finished reading the Stonebridge Newsletter and when I looked up you drove in. I just sent a copy of your story to the people of our church and told them how much we are going to miss you in this area. You’ve been a blessing to us. We wanted to be a blessing to you.” His name was Robb Klaty.
We all thanked him for his generous gift and then we thanked the Lord. We try to give freely a little bit every week by sending the Stonebridge Newsletter and forming relationships though it to encourage a and inspire others. Regularly people give back to us in some way.
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2Co 9:6-8 KJV)
Once again God demonstrated to me and to my family in a very sweet way, that if we give what we have to others, he will provide what we need to keep giving.
Ken Pierpont
Brook Place
Hinsdale, Illinois
September 18, 2006