Something happened at church last Sunday that has given me food for thought. I guess you could say it was a very effective object lesson, one that has re-impressed itself on me several times this week.
Sunday morning began normally enough. Daniel attended his early meeting while I got the kids ready for church. Besides corralling kids in the right direction and carrying an over-stuffed bag full of Primary music helps, I also had the baby in his carseat to juggle. Most Sundays I take all my stuff into the chapel and stick it under the pew. This inevitably leads to kids stepping over and on it, or asking for things to entertain them. I didn't want to deal with the distraction and the bulk of a car seat when leaving the meeting, so I did what seemed a sensible thing and left it all in the Primary room (minus the baby). I told Daniel where to find the bag when he needed a new diaper for Gideon, and everything was ready when Primary started. Accordingly, Sacrament meeting was slightly less chaotic than the previous week had been.
The first block of Primary went as smoothly as expected. I passed the baby to whomever was handy when I needed to lead music, and grabbed the visuals that I needed without really looking into my bag. Midway through Primary, I looked in my bag and realized that something was wrong. My wallet was sitting on a stack of papers, instead of inside the little bag that I use to carry my keys and change. I think I knew without looking that something would be missing, and sure enough, all my cash had been stolen.
My first thought was... had I known this would happen, I would have spent it first. My second thought was... I'm glad I unexpectedly bought lunch for my husband and kids just a couple days ago and paid cash for pizza when my sisters were visiting because we had the enjoyment of a meal, and there was less money in the wallet than there would have been.
I guess what has gone through my mind is the idea that saving is not always the best use of the resources we have been given. I was taught to save as a child, and have always been more comfortable having money in reserve than spending it impulsively. The reserves I accumulated then were used for travel study programs and a year of college. However, the scriptures are clear that our gifts are to be used for the benefit of others, and in the service of God. Talents wither if they are not used, money loses its value (or becomes "slippery") if hidden, testimonies diminish if not shared. Even seeds are of little value if not planted. However, when any of these are used in faith to bless others and serve the Lord, they are multiplied and the giver is richer for giving.
At the point I discovered my money was gone, I wished I had acted sooner. At that point, there was only one choice I had and that was whether to focus on what was taken from me, or to return the use of the money where it ought to have been all along. I mentally gave every dollar to God and prayed that He would, in some manner, make better use of those dollars that I had. I hoped that in some small way my loss might provide good somewhere, whether it be in the eventual repentance of the thief, or just making its way to a person who needed it much more than I did.
I thank God for my blessings. He has given me my daily bread, my home, health and family. I don't know what challenges and blessings are around the corner, but I have confidence that the Lord will continue to bless and provide for us as much as we allow him to. We have been commanded to give thanks in all things (D&C 98:1) so I thank God for stolen dollars and what they have taught me.
