How much does “caring” cost?
Tim Paton serves on the “Bridge of Hope Team” in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where they do all they can to help street children find a better life. Recently Tim had the opportunity of visiting the USA and was able to share some stories about the kids during a birthday party.
Zach, the birthday boy, was touched by Tim's enthusiasm for the kids on the streets of Phnom Penh because he has always had a heart for suffering children. As a matter of fact he wants to become a zoologist and plans to have an orphanage and zoo side-by-side.
Zach's mother, Penny, continues the story...
“Zach asks us nearly every day when we are going to adopt some children. He plans to have a whole houseful of them when he grows up. Anyway, we were at Wall Mart recently, shopping for slippers (as life in stone buildings is rather chilly and cold feet are a common occurrence).
We were able to find cheap ones for Jesse & Gabe, but Zach had to get men's size and that meant $10.00. We put them in the cart, but I could tell something was bothering Zach. We continued our shopping, but as we passed the shoe aisle again on our way to pay, Zach took his slippers from the cart and hung them back on the rack. I asked him what he was doing.
He told me that it bothered him to buy slippers for himself when he could take a street child from Cambodia off the street for one whole week with that same money. He said that as we shopped, he told God "If you want me to put the slippers back and send that money to Cambodia, just lead Mom to walk by the aisle where we got them again." When I took that route to the registers, he put them back.
Since then he hasn't said a word about it even though his brothers wear their slippers around the house. He just says, "I can wear socks to keep my feet warm." And that is exactly what he does.
He then began collecting every cent he could find to send to Cambodia. He emptied his own bank, asked for donations from his brothers, and within a month he had collected $69.12. His goal was to send $70, so Brian and I gladly gave him the last $0.88. He was so thrilled to send the money off to Cambodia on Christmas Eve!
It made this mother's heart sing with joy! I pray that he will always have that passion for the needy and suffering and be willing to sacrifice to reach out to them.”
A Fascinating Sequel
“I thought you might like to hear the continuation of the slipper story: Zach received $10.00 in the mail, with a note saying he should go buy himself the slippers he had bypassed at the store. He was uncertain what to do. Should he really buy slippers or should he just send that money to Cambodia as well? He felt like he should listen to the donor's wishes, but wanted to bless more street children. So, we went to the store and guess what? Because Spring is almost here, the slippers were marked down to $3.50. So, he got his slippers and still has $6.50 more to send to Cambodia. Amazing things still happen!”
(Contributed by Tim Paton)
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