"That poor young boy!", thought the older gentleman. The sanctuary was somewhat inactive as music was playing quietly, and the building seemed to be sheltering the people from the bitter cold of a New England winter. A young boy had just walked in with only a tattered sweatshirt, dirty jeans, and shoes with holes on the tops. He came running in with excitement, and everyone around him knew he must be happy just to be inside out of the cold. This young boy decided to sit in the very front row of the church. Service began with singing and praise, and the boy gladly joined in with a quaint, yet out of tune voice. The older gentleman sitting next to him, began to complain to his wife about the diturbance this child was causing. As the singing and praise came to a close, the ushers were asked to come forward, and offering baskets were passed around. The boy pulled one penny, one nickel, and one giant piece of fuzz and put it all in the bucket, and the boy seemed pleased as he smiled ear to ear. The older gentleman showed his disgust for this poor act of giving, and leaned over to the boy. "Young man one day when the Lord is willing, he will allow you to give as I do, of my wages.", whispered the older gentleman. "Kind Sir, I do not have a job as I am only 9, but I know if I had more to give I would give it. I can’t wait till i can give like you do though.", said the boy. The older gentleman smiled smuggly as he thought he really taught the boy an important lesson. The preacher began to speak of commitment, and how Jesus wants the whole person not just his money, time, or material things. The greatest commitment is to give your life to the cause of Christ. The boy jumped from his seat weeping as the preacher called for those who wanted to commit their lives to Christ. The boy was the only one standing and nothing was going to stop him. After the altar call was finished the boy came back to his seat. "Sir, the preacher just told me I just gave the greatest amount I could give, my life." whispered the young boy to the older gentleman. The older gentleman began to harden his heart a little, and did not acknowledge the boys comment. "Now I know why you told me about giving so I would be able to give everything like you do." the boy spoke these words with a sparkle of admiration in his eye for the older gentleman. The older gentleman simply began to feel convicted. The church service was over, and the boy said good-bye to the older gentleman. He ran into the park across the street. The boy then stopped running and noticed a $2 coupon to the local diner and ran with great joy back towards the church. "Sir, I have a gift for you." "I wanted to thank you for...", Instantly the young boy was hit by a local bus, and the $2 coupon flew from his hands and sailed to the feet of the older gentleman who just realized what happened. He ran for the boy and held him in his arms, and weeped as the boy could barely say a word. "Thank you kind sir. Thank you... I can now see Jesus... You go eat at the diner sir, please.", the words coming painfully from this young boy. The boy died that afternoon at the hospital, and the older gentleman got on his knees and cried out to God for forgiveness. He realized this young boy of 9 years taught him the greatest lesson of all, how to give everything. The older
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