This morning when I was at Wal-Mart, something wonderful and miraculous happened that brought tears of joy flowing down my cheeks. I could barely talk because I was so overwhelmed with the love that I saw that I was in awe. The past two weeks a lot of ants have gotten into my trailer. I have scrubbed everything where I saw them and yet some of them were still here last night.
As I went down the aisle this morning where the ant traps are displayed, I saw a little girl about seven or eight years old with a man who I assumed was her dad. Her dad was looking at some things and was getting frustrated and a little upset because he couldn’t find what he wanted. He looked like he was going to say something unkind any minute.
Suddenly the little girl came over to the handicapped cart I was sitting in and asked me what I was looking for on the shelf. I told her I needed something to get rid of ants in my house. She immediately went to the shelf and started looking for it. Within two minutes she brought me something that said “Ant Trap” on it and asked me if that was what I wanted. I told her that it was exactly what I needed.
I thanked her and told her how much I appreciated it. I opened my purse and took a dollar bill out and gave the money to her dad and asked him if he would please give it to his daughter. He kind of frowned at me and said, “No, I can’t do that”. Without warning, I got tears in my eyes and said to him “Please give the money to her. My birthday is July 7th and this is my birthday present to her. You have a wonderful, sweet, compassionate and caring daughter. You have done a great job in raising her”. He got tears in his eyes and his frown turned into a smile and he said “Thank you so much. I really appreciate you telling me this and for being so kind to my daughter. I will give the money to her”.
I was so excited that I had to tell someone! The first person I saw was one of the mangers of Wal-Mart. He was talking to six other department managers but this was important and needed to be shared immediately. I said “Forgive me but I need to speak to you for a couple of minutes and it can’t wait as it is very important”.
He came over to me and as I tried to tell him the miraculous thing that had just happened, the tears started again and I had to keep wiping them away. I told him about this precious little girl and how she had been so helpful to me and about how the frown on her dad’s face had become a smile because of his daughter. When I had finished telling him, I said “And a little child shall lead them”. The manager got tears in his eyes, smiled at me and said “Thank you so much for sharing this with me. You have just made my day”.
Do I think that we should buy our children something or give them money every time they do something nice? No, I don’t think we should because then they would expect something all the time. However, I do believe with all of my heart, that every time they do something nice, we need to take the time and acknowledge what they have done and say thank you.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6 King James Version
We must encourage our children if we expect them to keep the desire in their hearts to be helpful. Many times without realizing it, we crush their spirits and break their hearts because we just take it for granted when they do something nice. Yet when they are disobedient and do something wrong, we sure take the time to punish them. There is something wrong with this picture!
Parents want their children to say please and thank you to them, but often the parents don’t say please and thank you to their children. What we are saying to our children when we do this is “Don’t do as I do; do as I say”. My Mother used to tell me that all the time. How this must not only break our children’s hearts, but I believe it also makes Jesus very sad and upset. Children are very important to Jesus. He loves them and He has commanded us to be loving and kind to them.
Thank God for this precious child who had the desire to help a stranger. Thank God that her parents taught her that being kind and helpful is very important. Most important, thank God that because of her kindness, not only was I encouraged and helped, the manager was also encouraged.
Father, in the precious and majestic name of Jesus, I place this dear little girl on Your pillow of love and I ask that You would please protect her from all harm and keep her heart as tender and loving as it is today. Please don’t let anyone hurt her or say critical and sarcastic things to her. Keep her under the shelter of Your protection. Thank You so much. Amen.