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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Two Golden Coins

The little boy with had circled the bustling gymnasium of people and tables over and over. Every once in awhile he would come back to our table of jewelry and chocolate and look at a necklace. Then, clutching his little cowboy leather coin purse, he'd set off again.

My mom was grading papers next to me behind our maroon table at the craft fair. Delicate origami fish, fans, and cranes hung suspended from wires and gummy bear, m'n'm, and other unusual earrings were arranged about their rack. Business was hopping and I was working in a special order when the blond munchkin came to a stop at our table again. Like a kitten struck with a sudden, serious thought he gently fingered the silver chain of a necklace. He looked mom straight in the eye and declared that he had chosen; he wanted the sparkly gummy bear necklace.

Like most little people, he wasn't used to using anything but mud pies and action figures as barter. So, one scrubbed coin at a time, he would hold them out and ask, "Is this enough?" and Mom would sadly shake her head no.Finally, he unfurled his hand and held out two gleaming $1 coins. "How about these?" Taking the coins, still warm from how tight he had been clutching them, we bagged and presented the necklace. The smile of anticipation that lit up his face was well worth the discounted price. As he said thank you and turned to go, I asked him who the necklace was for. "Oh, its for my sister's birthday!" he beamed with the sincere secret of the perfect gift.

We ended up selling many earrings to many lovely people and making a nice nugget of dough to add the the Japan Trip fund baking in my glass milk jar of money. Even though it was the smallest, the most valuable profit was watching the delight of the little boy as he traded all he had to please the sister he loved; two golden coins.

The smell of coffee in the morning and other of life's simple pleasures,
_Hannah



Can't help but be reminded of this:

Luke 21

The Widow’s Offering

1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

3 comments:

  1. Very good verse and I'm sure his sister will be delighted with her gift! Your table looked very lovely and you sure looked busy yesterday!

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  2. That sounds so sweet!
    I didn't you you went to the craft fair, Hannah. I would've stopped by or something!~

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  3. Kudos to putting love before money.

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