Pennies...

I think that I have probably established the fact in various blog posts, that Piper and I enjoyed taking walks together.  In looking back, I would say that we began that experience together while we were both attending Chico State University, located in northcentral California, back in 1973-’74.  We were living in different dorms (one for gals and one for the guys) that were separated by a large and beautiful expanse of green lawn.

She was a Home Economics major and I was a Recreation Administration major… which meant that we didn’t have any classes together and therefore didn’t see much of each other during the day.  But in the evening, we always met on the grass and accompanied each other to the large cafeteria for dinner. 

Following that, we would enjoy a long and romantic walk around the beautiful grounds, that was dotted with old oak trees throughout the campus.  At times we would also venture off into the older but well-kept neighborhoods that were next to the school property.  And that tradition continued throughout the years of our marriage, up until her last week with us, when oxygen usage and weakness confined her to bed.

I remember one particular walk that we took on a weekend back in 2008 when I was in my second year of Bible College out here in Oklahoma.  It was one of those rare occasions when I had a Saturday off and we went out for a mid-afternoon stroll around the neighborhood to our favorite nature reserve that bordered the next neighborhood over from us.

As was Piper’s habit, she always stopped to pick up any loose change that we might come across along the way.  To be honest, this nonchalant practice of hers tended to bug me at times!  You see… I was too ‘cool’ (or more likely, embarrassed) to pick up anything in less it was at least a quarter or more.  But not Piper.  She’d bend over and swoop up what ever the amount was… even if it was just a few pennies!  Then she would pocket the change and transfer it to a plastic bag she kept on her dresser when we got home.

One thing that you would also have to know about Piper though, was that she was a giver.  Whenever the bucket was passed at church, she always put something into it... even if it was just the few cents she found in the street on our walks.   In line with her generosity, the Apostle Paul taught us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 to,

“Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the JOY of giving—all because God loves HILARIOUS generosity!” (TPT)

The word translated “HILARIOUS” in this modern version, is translated as “CHEERFUL” in the older King James Bible.  And although it’s a commonly used word in the Bible, the specific Greek word from this interpretation is only found once in the New Testament… and it is within this verse.

According to Strong’s, the word is defined as someone who, in their giving, is “propitious or hilarious and merry, that is prompt or willing.”  Well, sad to say, but I had to look up the word “propitious” in the dictionary… and I am glad that I did!  The Oxford Online Dictionaries explains that someone who is “propitious,” gives with a faithful attitude that “indicates a good chance of success; favorable:”

Our scripture verse tells us that giving should be done with a CHEERFUL heart that “springs up freely from the JOY of giving…” And why do it?  Well, as the verse continues to say, because “God loves a HILARIOUS giver.”  That is someone, who like my wife, always gave from the JOY in her heart that was based on her assurance that God would be true to His Word as Paul continued in the very next verse declaring that,

“Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 – TPT)

Piper and I believed God’s promise of “overflow with abundance in every good thing” in every area of our lives.  And while this verse is specifically speaking of financial blessings based on our JOYFUL obedience to His Word, there are countless other scriptures throughout the Bible, that talk about the “pressed down, shaken together and running over… exceedingly abundantly above all”* of God toward us as we give of ourselves in EVERY area of our lives.

You see: These are the promises on which you and I have the foundational strength to be CHEERFUL in the midst of every situation… because we are assured of His answers, of His wisdom, of His intervention  and of His victory in the events of our everyday lives!  With all of that in mind… I find it really hard to not be JOYFUL at all times and in particular, during situations of distress and concern.

Oh… and back to that walk some 15 years ago.  We were experiencing a financially tight stretch at that time as her Suburban needed some work and I wasn’t getting my paycheck until the following week… and to be humbly honest, the refrigerator was a little bare.  But, as usual, Piper spotted a handful of change in the gutter as we walked, scooped it up, looked at me with a smile and said “Just wait ‘til we get home.”

So… when we got back to the duplex we were renting, she went upstairs, grabbed the plastic change bag, dumped it on my desk, added her find from that day and counted out the coins.  Well… low and behold… she had enough in the bag for us to drive over to our local Walmart to purchase the things we needed, and on top of that… We had enough to get a bag of their deli’s fried chicken!

Now… that may not sound like a big deal to you… but it was a very fancy treat for us… and we thanked the Lord with every bite of that most delicious dinner that night!  And you know… I NEVER complained about Piper picking up change of any amount again… in fact… even if it is a penny… I do the same (with a smile of remembrance for that day and of my sweet Piper) today!

According to our verses above, I firmly believed that God multiplied the change in Piper’s little plastic bag, because of her JOYFUL obedience to His Word… even when she saw me scowl at her for picking up a few cents or putting those same few cents into the offering at church!

And… Believe you me… I learned my lesson on the “pressed down, shaken together and running over” of God…  HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have a blessed weekend and keep EXPECTING God’s BEST!

 

And don’t forget that:  “CHEERFUL IS THE WAY TO BE IN 2023!”

 

*See: Luke 6:38, Ephesians 3:20… etc!