Your gifts matter

Some of my greatest lessons of faith have been taught with the simplest of beginnings, such as the wheelchair found abandoned on the side of the highway.
When the owner could not be found, the chair was brought to the local church, cleaned up, and loaned out when needed.
Over time, the congregation began to see a need within the community for different types of medical equipment. They set aside a room and began collecting various walkers, chairs, bedside tables, etc. As overseer of this ministry, I was fortunate enough to witness many of its blessings. However, none were as beautiful as when I met the Vietnam veteran at the area gas station.
He pulled beside me in his flatbed diesel as I filled my truck with gas. I noticed as he climbed down from his seat that he was an amputee above the knee. I also saw the change of expression as he looked over the bed of his truck. Something wasn’t right. This man’s brother had loaded his wheelchair onto the bed but failed to secure it properly.
As I offered to help, he handed me $50 and asked if I could get him a cup of coffee and pay for his gas with what remained. I was thankful for the opportunity.
Returning with his coffee, I mentioned the ministry and said I would bring him a replacement chair if he waited in the parking lot. There had been a recent donation of a brand-new chair that might meet his needs.
I was right; the chair was made for him. We sat in the parking lot a while longer and shared our stories. He talked a lot about the war, the loss of friends, and his thankfulness that he returned home, wounded but alive.
I spoke of the community, the ministry, and how God had brought us to meet that day.
Then we strapped his new chair down, said our goodbyes, and went our separate ways without exchanging names.
Our names did not seem necessary. Yet, what was important was how one man found an abandoned wheelchair on the side of the road and blessed another man who lost his chair five years later on the side of the road.
What may have seemed insignificant initially became significant to many, including the Vietnam veteran.
The abandoned wheelchair has taught me two lessons in ministry. First, God does not ask for more than we can give. The humble widow gave pennies in the parable, while the prideful man boasted of his extravagant giving. Jesus said the widow had given more than the pompous man (Mark 12:41-44) because her gift was of the heart. The tiniest mustard seed will grow into the grandest tree of the garden, and life will gather to it (Matthew 13:31-32). In the same way, when we humble ourselves before the Lord, our simplest gifts will bring life to others.
The second lesson is this: we may never see the results of our labor, but it will bear fruit. The finder of the original chair never knew of the veteran he had ultimately blessed. However, the works of our Lord are like that. The word of the Lord will accomplish what He has set out to do. (Isaiah 55:11). The faith of the early church and the apostles’ actions are still mighty even though they do not see the results. Therefore, let today be the day God does great things through you.
When we put God first in our lives. He will direct our steps, making our efforts successful (Proverbs 3:6).

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.