21
Day
Sugarcane From the Heart
Jason Campbell , OMS ’ One Mission Kids
Luke 21:4
For they all contributed out of their abundance , but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on .
In 2001 , I spent my first Christmas overseas in Haiti . While I was away from the familiar sights and sounds of the holiday season , God taught me a lesson I will never forget .
That Christmas , I gave my Haitian / Bahamian friend , Joey , money to buy a calling card so he could speak to his family in the Bahamas .
Joey lived in a cardboard box next to a cement wall . On Christmas Day , Joey visited me , carrying something large and bulky under his arm . It was a stalk of sugarcane . He said , “ I don ’ t have much , but I wanted to give you something to show my gratitude and love .”
I told him he did not need to give me anything because his friendship was enough .
He responded , “ No , I wanted to get you something . So , with what little money I had , I bought you a stalk of sugarcane and this melon .”
I didn ’ t know what to say . His gift not only touched my heart , but it also humbled me to my core . I kept my composure and said thank you .
In a small way , I now better understand what Jesus taught his followers when he saw a widow give at the temple . He said the widow gave more than the rich people because she gave everything she had . What a challenge to me and you ! May we be more like the widow and Joey , who were willing to give everything .
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