Research Paper In English IV

Submitted to: Ms. Joyce Maugao Submitted from: Judy Ann Tulang, Charlote Flores Description: Family Story Author:
by Micah

When Its Hard for Me to Trust

They say that when you become a father youre able to see God better. Maybe theyre right though not in the ways I expected. There was no ray of cosmic love-light that suddenly appeared when my sons were born. But, there are moments when I hear the words coming out of my mouth and a pause to wonder: Is that how God feels about me? Theres that verse in Scripture about how we love to give good gifts to our children, and how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those that ask Him? It floats through my mind in those moments, and I think about how much I love my boys, and how much my Father must love me. /// I wrestle with the idea of giving. The way I heard it taught growing up, it was pretty formulaic. Give God at least ten percent of your income, and Hell take care of your finances for you. If you fail to give God at least ten percent of your income, Hell allow Satan to mess with your money; God might even smite you Himself just to teach you a lesson. I dont think I believe that anymore, but Ill be the first to admit that I dont really know HOW giving works. I think generosity is important. I think were blessed so we can bless. But Im super uncomfortable with any suggestion that our financial wellbeing is influenced by how much money we give to God. Still, I catch myself wondering sometimes if the reason Im having trouble making ends meet is because I havent been giving quite ten percent, if maybe God is withholding blessing because Im paying bills and buying stuff instead of writing a montly check to the church. /// Tonight my son, the three-year-old, wanted some lemon juice in his little plastic cup. As I filled it up, I told him, Make sure you share with your brother and your friend if they want some. He was worried, though. If he shared with them, it would be all gone. Dont worry, I promised him. If you share and run out, Ill give you more. That was one of those moments that I wondered if God was trying to say the same thing to me. Dont worry. If you share and run out, Ill give you more. As I refilled his cup with pink lemonade a second and third time, I thought about the faith of a child and the generosity of God. Its hard for me to trust that if I share and run out, Hell give me more. But maybe its that simple. After all, doesnt the Father love to give good gifts to His children?