54 A Lesson From a Happy Meal
Grace was babysitting her grandson Johnny for the day and decided to take him to McDonald's for lunch. As they walked into the restaurant, Grace told her grandson, "Johnny, you can have whatever you want on the menu."
Johnny peered at the menu then he pointed at the Happy Meal and excitedly told Grace, "Grandma, I want that one! I want a cheeseburger!"
Grace then went to the cashier and purchased the meal for Johnny. She took Johnny to a booth in the corner and sat down with him. She smiled as he happily munched on his hamburger and sipped on his soda. Grace then asked her grandson, "Johnny, may I have one french fry?"
Johnny looked at Grace then immediately pulled his tray closer towards him. "No, Grandma! This is all mine!"
Grace smiled slightly and said nothing, but continued to watch Johnny eat his food. After a couple of minutes, Johnny stopped eating his food and started looking down on the floor with a sad expression on his face.
"What's the matter, Johnny?" asked Grace.
"My food doesn't taste as good anymore, Grandma," replied Johnny.
"Why is that, Johnny?" asked Grace.
"I'm sorry, Grandma!" Johnny started crying. "You bought me all this good food, but I didn't want to share with you. I didn't even give you one french fry when you asked! I know that was bad! Please forgive me, Grandma!" blubbered Johnny as tears streamed out from his eyes.
"That's okay, Johnny, I forgive you. You can stop crying now," said Grace, as she took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tears away from Johnny's eyes.
"Grandma, could you please eat the rest of my french fries?" asked Johnny. "If you do, I think it will make my cheeseburger taste better."
Grace laughed. "Okay, Johnny. After we finish this food, I'll buy us an ice cream sundae and we will share it together, okay?"
"Okay, Grandma!" beamed Johnny. "Let me get another straw so you can share my soda, too!"
David wrote in the book of Psalms that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. Everything we have has been given to us by God. Therefore, we are only stewards of what God has given us. In return, God only asks for ten percent of our increase or earnings. We should be faithful in tithing back to God to thank Him for all that he given us. In addition, God promises us that He will greatly bless us if we faithfully tithe, so much so, that we won't know what do with all the blessings that He pours out on us!
- Recommended reading: Exodus 35:21-22, Exodus 36:4-7, Malachi 3:10
