The Faith & Innocence of a Child

I am amazed at how much I learn and am challenged in my faith by my children. God tells us we must have the faith of a child in Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17. Today Grant came up to me and out of the blue asked if the children who didn't have a house or food were playing with the toys and eating the food we sent them. Our kids participated in a mission project before Christmas to help needy families. Then, he said he wanted to go visit and take them more food. He went in our pantry and pulled out some of our food. Ironically, we just applied for food stamps today and I explained that we were also in need of food. Then, in talking with Grant I just stopped what I was saying as I was overcome with conviction that I was to be setting the example of generosity and here I was trying to look out for our needs. I told him how proud of him I was that he would want to help those in need.
It brought me back to the first time Vince was involved in a mass lay off and we were on food stamps and medicaid. Every time we had bills, it simply amazed me of the miracles we experienced as money would come from random people and sources that enabled us to pay our bills. One time we received a monetary gift from someone and shortly later we were made aware of someone who was also in need. We had never met these people but we felt very convicted to give some of this money away. While logically it made no sense to give away money when we had no money ourselves, we just knew God was asking us to do that. I called the lady and explained our situation and told her that we were not sure of the amount but we had discussed a range we felt we were to give them. We were trying to be wise with what we felt like God provided us but we also wanted to be obedient to what we felt God was asking us to do. She explained her situation and the amount they had been praying for fell right within the range Vince and I had discussed. I tell you this story because this happened two years ago and we should all be striving to move and grow in our faith. Today, I was reminded by my child's actions and comments that I reverted back to my selfish nature instead of having even more faith than I did two years ago. I was also reminded that even though we gave some of that money to someone else, God never let us down and we never missed any bills as Vince was out of work for those 13 months. I think sometimes God calls us to do what seems like crazy things to so many in order to do a miracle and reveal His power and glory. Only when we take the leap of faith, can we experience the adventure. My hope and prayer is that I never indirectly or directly discourage my kids again from doing what God has called all of us to do. I hope that I will be like the little boy who offered Jesus his lunch and Jesus took the small portion and multiplied it to feed the 5,000. If only I will go back to having the faith of a child, and I too will again see these kind of miracles.