What Really Matters is Invisible to The Eyes

This morning started too early. When the alarm went off, for the second time, I shut it off, rolled on my back, and said, out loud, “I don’t wanna get up.” I almost kicked my feet and put my bottom lip out, but I do have some self-control. Instead, I rolled out of bed, put some toothpaste on my Oral-B and pressed the on button. Toothbrush buzzing, I proceeded to wake my kids up. They were very reluctant, until I reminded them that we were going to the coffee shop this morning to do some fundraising for their Bible Quizzing trip. Still a little slow to move, I think they were both out of bed before my spin-brush buzzed four times to signal the end of the brushing cycle. I quickly threw an outfit on, if I am honest, the same outfit I wore yesterday. I threw some clips in my hair and slipped my boots on. No, I didn’t forget to tell you I brushed my hair…I didn’t. I am allergic to morning.

In case you are like I was a few months ago, you are probably wondering “What is Bible Quizzing?” It’s an awesome, competitive league where kids memorize scripture and then face off in tournaments. We discovered it last year and my kids have really enjoyed the tournaments, the trips we have taken to compete, and the friends they have met. They don’t always like the daily memorization, but overall it has been a fun “sport”, and they have both done really well. My daughter’s team won first place at a recent tournament, qualifying them to compete at the national tournament in Branson, Missouri. While we are extremely proud of her and her team, and excited to make trek halfway across the country, we are very aware of the cost. So, we are doing some fundraising to help offset that cost.

This morning the kids got ready in record time (no small feat for home-schooled children), and I reminded them to grab a few trophies to put out on display. A small argument commenced over which ones to bring, to which I said, “Just grab a few – it doesn’t matter.” I guess it did matter because just seconds later, my son dropped one in the hallway and it broke…and it was one of his sister’s trophies. I waited for her to get angry, but instead, this beautiful little girl just said “It’s okay. It’s no big deal. Dad can fix it.” I am always amazed at her kindness. And she was right, my husband went to the garage and got the heavy duty glue and was gluing it back together when we left.

Fast-forward about a half an hour. The kids are set up in front of the coffee shop. I am at a nearby table with my laptop, working, observing them interact with people walking by. “Excuse me, sir, would you like to support our Bible Quizzing team?” A few folks did, a few said not today, and a few hurried by with their eyes on the ground, sure not to make eye contact with them. And then this guy walked up, baseball cap, bearded face, a few visible tattoos. He engaged the kids, “What do you guys have going on here?” The kids gave him their speech and told him that if he would like to pick a scripture out of their box, they would quote it for him. He grabbed Exodus 24:12 out and my son recited it for him. This guy went for his wallet and handed my son a one-hundred dollar bill. His jaw dropped. He spread it out to show me, and my jaw nearly dropped. I was completely shocked. I didn’t see that coming. I thanked the guy after the kids did, and he went into the coffee shop to order his drink. After he placed his order, he came out and made small talk, told us his parents had raised him in church and that they were doing the right thing, that they would learn how to love people. He was genuine, and I was convicted. He was right. That is our number one priority as Christians, to love. 1Cor. 13:2 says if we don’t have love, we are nothing. He went on to tell us how he owned the tattoo parlor in town and invited us to come by any time we had a fundraiser. He got his coffee and went to his car, and then he stopped. He turned around and returned to the kids and put a folded up bill in their cash jar and said “Here’s a little more for you.” My husband (who had joined us just before this amazing scene unfolded) grabbed my son by the hand and walked over to his car to shake his hand, and tell him thank you again. It wasn’t until an hour later when we were packing up and heading home that the kids reached in the jar and unfolded the money he put in. It was two more one-hundred dollar bills. I was speechless. Who does that? What this guy did for us today, financially was huge. He gave us nearly a quarter of what we needed to make the trip to Branson. But what he did for me, I hope for us, spiritually was so much more important. I made it a point to let the kids know that something happened when he got to his car, and my guess was that he heard that still, small voice whispering. And he obeyed. My husband reminded them that you never judge a book by its cover.

The rest of the day was rough. I became frustrated, my dog mistook my carpet for a patch of grass, I was eleven minutes late to a meeting, the tech came to fix my internet while no one was home to let him in, and the night ended with my daughter in tears. And through all of that – in spite of all that – I am reminded that what really matters is invisible to the eyes. I am so thankful today that God saw the potential in me when the world had discarded me. I am thankful that He sent a reminder today that my number one priority is to love others, to be a reflection of His light.