April's BIG GIVE

I have been praying all the last week, asking God who He has chosen to bless with this money, asking Him to open my eyes to the needs around me, and to point me to the person He has chosen. I have wondered and even worried about how this money should be used. Then last night it came to me. God began to direct me on this matter.

This morning I took a blank card out of my desk drawer, with its envelope. When I got to church I took one of the church cards and one of the Saturday Worship cards off the table and put them in the envelope. The card had a cheerful picture of some kittens on the cover. I wrote John 3:16 inside and then wrote a note that this money was a gift from CBC and prayed that the gift would bless this person''s life in some small way, and signed my name "in Christ's love." Then I put the money with a 5 from my purse and the church card inside.

I usually go to dinner at one of the nearby restaurants after church, and I usually puzzle over which one to choose, since their number is rather limited in this area. This morning I somehow knew exactly which one I was going to, and went there straight: Bob Evans. I have eaten there many times after church and almost always sit at the counter so I don't have to wait for a table (They are always very busy at 11:00 on Sundays) and I don't take up a whole table by myself. The same waitress is always on duty on the counter; a lady about my age or older, very sweet and friendly. When she brought the menu I made sure to get her name and wrote it on the envelope, then laid it on the edge of the counter closest to her.

She found it when she came back to get my order and was delighted just with the picture of the kittens, but thrilled when she found the money inside.

Sitting next to me were a couple who turned out to be rather unpleasant. They weren't happy with their meal or the service and let it be known several times. Finally they called for the manager and complained to her, right in front of me. She apologized several times but they kept repeating their list of complaints, receiving another apology with each repetition. The manager promised to reprimand the waitress. When they left, the manager called my waitress into the back. When the manager came back she apologized to me about the unpleasant scene. My waitress then showed her the card and they both oohed over the kittens. The waitress said I had definitely made her day. Thus, I was blessed by being able to witness how God had indeed blessed her right then with that small gift.

I thank God, and have thanked Him, for giving me the thrill of being a part of turning someone's day around. Thank you. That's my story. Miriam J. Songster