For Heaven's Sake
Linda Riley
January 1, 1998
Sermons aren't the only way to learn something
in church. Sometimes the Lord designs unexpected, and unforgettable, object
lessons. That's what happened on a recent Family Sunday, a monthly service that includes
kids. During announcements, we have an "award ceremony," where children's
accomplishments, great and small, are honored. We have honored a boy who
rescued a drowning child from a pool; a 12-year-old whose team won the state
girls' softball championship; three little girls for being helpful big sisters
to their new baby brother; and many others for good attitudes and kind behavior.
The children are given a big hand, an award certificate, a badge of honor,
and a present, usually a new toy. One month, I conferred with our children's minister, and we chose Frances
to receive a "Sweet Heart Award." Frances is a 10-year-old cherub who makes
homemade cards for folks. Her ready smile gives no hint of how tough her
young life has been. Since Frances lives with her unemployed grandparents and was unable to buy
new school clothes, I wanted to give Frances a new dress. I hesitated; a
dress would cost more than the usual gift and might provoke jealousy in others.
Still, I was certain the gift for Frances should be a new dress. On Saturday, my teenage shopping expert, Amanda, and I went shopping for
Frances. We instantly spotted the dress: blue sunflowers on a pale
blue background—pretty, and just Frances's style. The dress was perfect.
The price tag wasn't. Reluctantly, we perused the sales rack but kept returning wistfully to the
blue dress. Finally relenting, we bought not only the blue dress, but also
a blue sunflower hair clip to match. My pastor-husband, Jay, saw the dress and foretold impending doom: jealousy,
envy, ...
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