by Pam Woodson, 2/11
Woodson Ministries, Tulsa, OK
My grandmother lived during the Depression era and later told me an interesting story. While most people then were struggling financially, enduring all kinds of hardship, one man in particular did quite well. He asked himself, "What can I do to get money in these hard times?" His answer was: Make shoes. No matter what anyone would do without in that day to save money, they needed shoes on their feet. Sure, in the hottest parts of the country perhaps they did without; but the rest of the country wanted to keep its feet warm, and even Southern farmers didn't want to step on field burrs or snakes -- so they bought shoes with the few dollars they possessed. The man who made and sold shoes had found a need and met it. He himself benefited, as well as all the people who escaped frost bite or snake bite. We see a point here for us as Christians: When we see a need and meet it, we come out on top and those we help definitely come out better than before. We are blessed to be a blessing. Jesus Himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).