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GOD SMILED AT MY SECOND CHANCE

April 5, 2008 on 1:16 am | By Bill Sheridan | In Motivational Thoughts | 2 Comments

It was late on a winter day about fifteen years ago. I saw him looking in the trash bin as I was leaving the Des Moines, Iowa YMCA and felt the urge to give him something but also was in a bit of a hurry to get home.

Wondering if I should offer him a few bucks–I reached into my pocket (I hate carrying a billfold) and found four crumpled up one-dollar bills.

That’s when it occurred to me that I had a dilemma. My buddies and I were meeting for Bible Study the next morning and I needed some cash to throw into the kitty for the breakfast rolls and orange juice.

It was obvious that Trash Bin Man needed the money more than me, but I was not going to have time to stop at an ATM. What to do?

I took the easy way out and walked toward my car when I heard the man squeal out in delight as he found some empty pop bottles to turn in for a refund, “Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!”

Mortified and embarrassed by my selfish act and already standing by my car, I opened the door and drove home in shame. My pride at not having cash to throw into the Bible Study pot was bigger than my opportunity to have done something that would have been pleasing to my Lord.

I never forgot that unpleasant experience and vowed that if the opportunity presented itself again, I would do the right thing and empty my pocket for the person in need.

Obviously, God was paying attention. Fast-forward a year or two and I was leaving church one Sunday morning. As I neared my automobile I noticed a man standing over and rooting around in a large trash container.

Feeling in my pocket I pulled out the only bill that I had in it. To my chagrin it turned out to be a twenty.

Although I knew what I had to do, it was a bit painful.

“Sir?”

“What?”

Defensive and agitated, he did not want to get an anticipated lecture from me and seemed uncomfortable that I had come upon him.

“I believe the Lord told me to give this to you.”

He looked at his gift and mumbled a ‘thank you’ saying that he could really use it.

This time when I got in my car I think I heard God whisper to me, “That cost you an extra sixteen bucks, my son. Have you learned your lesson.”

“Yes, Lord,” I said with a smile. I believe I have. Yes, indeed, I believe I have.”

Bill Sheridan–SHERIDAN WRITES