As we were driving back from a trade show in Las Vegas, on the last leg of the 5 hour trip, we stopped at a rest stop. On my way to the restroom, I noticed jewelry laid out in jewelry cases, lying on a rock. On my way back, I saw a middle-aged Native Indian couple sitting in the shade of a tree in the oppressive 105 degree heat. I glanced at the jewelry again, but it looked like cheap stuff so I kept on going. I get a feeling either someone is going to try to pressure me into buying, or I will be disrespectful if I DON'T buy. So I glance as I walk.

As Steve went to walk around, I told him to look at it and see if there was something he liked and to check the prices. I told him I already had a pair of the earrings they were selling and they are cheaply made.

He came back and said there was nothing that caught his eye. I watched as the woman got up and walked to the jewelry cases. As we were leaving I said, 'how hard it is to try to earn your living at a rest stop, selling jewelry, in this heat. Maybe we should buy something, just to help them out'. Steve, as usual didn't say anything. lol I said, 'but I don't have $8 in my pocket and I have enough junk jewelry'. Steve nodded. Then I prayed asking God to bless them financially and to help them, Steve agreed. As Steve was driving away I said, 'but WE are God's hands and feet, yes, he can bless them but he uses his children and if we don't, in a sense, how is God going too'? Steve nodded and said, 'true'. But he didn't back up and I didn't pressure for it.

Now, we had 1.5 hours left of driving and we had slept in a TERRIBLE bed for 3 nights at a Sunterra 'resort'. Steve's neck was visibly out, he couldn't turn his head, and I had been up since 4 a.m., going to 'sleep' at 11 p.m. This was about 1 p.m., so neither one of us was thinking very clearly.

While praying this morning, 7/19/04, it dawned on me...we didn't HAVE to BUY anything, to be God's hands all we could have done was to give her the $5 in my pocket!
Lord, help me to remember I can just give what I have and please get your message through my brain when I'm being dense. Amen.
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