Stories About Giving… Starting with Shoes

This past Sunday, I talked about giving. Toward the end of the message, I challenged people to take off their shoes and leave them at church. We give away shoes several times per year and hundreds of people come with a need. As people walked out of church barefoot across the cold, hard concrete, they were to feel just a bit of what it is to be homeless and shoeless. So dozens left their shoes and our lobby is now covered with them!

What has really encouraged me is the stories I’ve heard since Sunday. I wanted to relay a few that might encourage you also…

One gentleman, on his way out of church, shook my hand and asked what would happen to his shoes if he left them. I explained how we give shoes away to folks within the community. He took off his shoes, smiled, and handed them to me. They were pretty much brand new. Thanks for giving!!

One little boy, age 3, went to Walmart with his parents after church and asked if they could buy some shoes. When asked why, he said, “for the kids who have to walk on concrete without shoes.” They bought some. Thanks for giving!!

Another gentleman stopped by my office yesterday to relate to me that he had on his favorite pair of dress shoes Sunday. He didn’t really want to give them up and determined to go buy a new pair at a store and bring them back to church the next week, but the Holy Spirit reminded him of what sacrifice was all about. He left his favorite shoes and said, “That message made a big impact on me.” Thanks for giving!!

Another lady in our church, who couldn’t give her shoes on Sunday, accepted my alternate challenge to do some random act of kindness within 36 hours. She tried three days in a row to buy someone’s meal behind her at Sonic’s drive-thru, but nobody ever came behind her. The third day she was able to buy someone’s drink for $1.79. Not feeling this was enough of a gift, she went and bought flowers for the ladies who worked there! Thanks for giving!!

As you can imagine, my heart has been uplifted this week. I thank God for this wonderful church on the hill!! The people are amazing. Perhaps you were here and you’ve experienced the blessing of giving – tell me about it in the comments section below. Or perhaps you’re not a part of Bethel, but you’ve been a giver or a recipient of an amazing gift recently, what’s your story?

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