Notes

Short Story From Africa: A bit of Candy for Isaac and How He Solved the issue It Created
Sometimes you are just going right through life and suddenly you are hit smack privately of your head with an impacting lesson.

Ever have that happen to you? I wish to share among my experiences where just that happened to me. It is a short story from Africa.

We were missionaries in Ghana for twenty years. Throughout that time, we lived for 11 years in Kumasi, and then moved further north to Tamale for about 9 years.

While we were in Kumasi, I'd visit women in a village called Apromase to teach Bible Studies with all my friends there. Among my friends had a child named Isaac.

When I would go into the village, I would carry Isaac on my back with a cloth as was the custom there. Over a few years, Isaac grew to know me and loved his rides on my back when I went visiting in the village.

After moving to Tamale, I didn't see Isaac for a few years. During one of our trips south, we decided to stay in Apromase and greet all our friends there. I knew I'd see Isaac therefore i took a piece of hard candy in my own pocket to provide him.

As we walked across the dirt road, I breathed in the dusty air and embraced with my heart the depth of friendships I had in this village. Women came running out of these huts to greet me and we chattered away as if time had stood still since my last visit.

Then I saw a handsome boy about 6 yrs . old approach me hesitantly as if he was wondering if it was really his long lost white mama. I knew it had to be Isaac. I knelt down and embraced his black glistening body.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the tiny little bit of hard candy I had brought along for Isaac. His eyes brightened as he eagerly accepted my gift.

Isaac was suddenly surrounded by 7 little boys who were begging Isaac to share using them. My heart sank and I thought, "Why didn't I bring a complete handful of candy to give out?"

But Isaac didn't seem particularly annoyed by his dilemma. Rather he appeared to be basking in his new-found popularity and power of being who owns the piece of hard candy which he could do whatever he wanted with - whether to take pleasure from it himself or even to give it to a lucky recipient.

Then something very unusual happened that I would haven't imagined in a million years.

Isaac unwrapped the candy and put it between his teeth where he crunched down on the candy, breaking into tiny pieces. He then put the broken pieces in to the palm of his left hand.

Without the fanfare, he gingerly found one tiny piece and gave it to one of the begging boys. Then he took another piece and generously doled it out. read more did this with all the current pieces until these were all gone.

Big smiles were shared throughout as his friends sucked on the tiny piece of sweetness on the tongues.

However the biggest smile of most was on Isaac's face. He previously taken what little treat he possessed, one little bit of hard candy, and shared it out with his little friends.

And that was when it hit me. My reaction to the "problem" was to feel bad that I hadn't earned more candy.

Isaac's reaction to the "problem" was that it wasn't an issue at all. All he had to accomplish was to divide up what he previously so that everyone could share in the windfall.

I don't know about you but I want to become more like Isaac today, generous with what I have, instead of looking forward to more surplus before being generous.

That reminds me of the verse in Acts 20:35 where in fact the Lord says "It is more blessed to give than to get."

Truly Isaac modeled this truth if you ask me.

Amy Hagerup is known as "the Hope-giver." She focuses on coaching people in the regions of health, finances, online marketing, along with other life issues. In case you are looking for renewed hope in virtually any area, have a look at how Amy can help you at http://amyhagerup.com
Here's my website: https://www.soulmete.com/