The Coin
Matthew 25:40 “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
The church orchestra began to play the Stars and Stripes as everyone rose to their feet. One of the men who had just returned from the war in Iraq was in uniform and carried the flag down the aisle to the front of the church. As they passed near to where I sat, I noticed that a small boy wearing a beret was marching proudly beside the man. He could not have been more than 4 years old. They arrived together on the platform and the man placed the flag into its holder. They stepped back and the Pastor led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. It was a special moment but only a small glimpse of what was to unfold in the next few moments.
After the pledge our Pastor introduced the man and his son to the congregation. He was someone that the church had been praying for as he was away from his family in the war. It was great to see him home and to participate in such a moment. But there was more••
Our Pastor asked him to share an incident that happened while he was on duty in Iraq. He began to tell this story:
While on duty in Iraq, he received a package from the 4th and 5th grade Bible class of our church. In the package of letters was a small coin about the size of a silver dollar. The inscription on the coin read words that God would protect him and care for him. He slipped the coin into his pocket and carried it with him throughout the remainder of his duty in Iraq.
One day he injured his back and was taken to the field medical facility much like what we have seen in MASH. While he lay in the medical field medical station they brought in a young man who he said must have been about 19 years old. He was badly wounded from a mine or something similar. He only had one good hand and his body was severely injured. He cried for them to find his St. Christopher medal and give it to him. He obviously wanted God to be near, as he knew that he was in severe danger. They were unable to locate the medal for him.
They soon wheeled the young man off to surgery. Our church member remembered the coin that he had in his pocket from the 4th and 5th grade Bible class. He removed it from his pocket and called a nurse over to his bed. He asked if the nurse would take his coin to the young man going into surgery and tell him that God was with him. The nurse understood and left to take the coin to the young man. Some time later the young man was returned from surgery and it was noted that in his good hand he was clutching the coin. God was there and had demonstrated it by touching young children to send a coin to a member of the church on duty in the war, who was touched to share it with a very wounded young man, who was able to feel the presence of God in a moment of crisis in a distant land.
You and I never know what God has in store when we are obedient in the small things of life. It is not the grandiose but the small loaves of bread and fish, the widow’s mite, the son of a shepherd where God does His wonder. Your touch filled with His Spirit can create a ripple that can be felt around the world. NEVER underestimate the things God wants to do in and through you.
…..Pastor Jim by way of Tim’s Inspiration (timsinspiration@yahoo.com) (inspirationdaily@yahoogroups.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)
momsfirstscreenn
