2min of your time:
Last week (at our annual Christmas Party), something happened that has never happened in all the years that we’ve done our $5 gift exchange. The party was over, the students were making their way to the after-party snack when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see one of our students holding a gift card sleeve. She said she ended up with this at the end but there was no card in it.

She looked at me and asked, “what do I do?”

I couldn’t believe it! I was frustrated to say the least. The interesting thing is that as frustrated as I was over what had happened, I was overcome by my compassion for the student that was standing in front of me.

I reached into my back pocket and grabbed two gift cards that were left over from the night, and I gave them both to her. The expression on her face changed in an instant. I can still remember her smile as she turned to run and chase down a snack. Despite my frustration over what happened I couldn’t help but find a smile on my own face due to her excitement.

As her strides led her further and further from me, God began to speak to me…in that still kinda small way and said, “Tommy, instead of complaining to her friends, instead of going to other people and trying to figure out who shorted her, or gossiping over a lost/stolen gift card, she went to the one person that could turn the situation around. As a result, she got back more than was taken from her.”

As I stood, in a nearly empty room at that point…I thought about how that’s what God offers to each one of us. Some of you, just like the girl have been shorted. You’ve been wronged. Maybe something was even stolen from you. My encouragement to you, is to go to the one that can make it better. Instead of complaining to all of those that will take the time to listen, go to the one who can actually turn it all around.

I heard He has a lot of compassion.