When you're a little kid, ice cream means a whole lot more to you than money. Trust me, I'd know.
For a lot of kids, ice cream is always a special treat. There are many reasons for this, not least of which is the high sugar content.
Second of all, ice cream can be expensive. I will never understand why two scoops at the ice cream parlor can sometimes costs as much as a whole tub at the store!
Either way, it's tough to tell your kids no, but sometimes its necessary to make a point or when funds are tight.
Sara Moore Gruver, a mom and paramedic from Western New York, experienced this dilemma recently when her children moaned and groaned for ice cream from the back seat of her car.
Sara had to say "no" to her kids, but it wasn't long before something happened — and it changed her mind.
Sara shared the experience on Facebook:
So I have $20 to my name right now. Bills are paid and food is bought, but there just wasn’t much leftover this week. That’s okay. Then on the way home from grocery shopping today, my kids begged for ice cream. Begged. Cried real tears. All the drama.
I said no. I’m short on money and I might need that $20 before payday. We have plenty of good food at home; we don’t need to stop at the ice cream store.
I heard little sighs from the back seat, and then, "God, we'd really love some ice cream. Is there any way you can give mommy some money so we can get some ice cream tonight? We know you can. Thank you."
Oh good grief. “Guys,” I said, “God isn’t going to drop money on our door step so you two can get ice cream. He’s BUSY right now with natural disasters.”
“Nope,” Josh said. “God said you’ll have plenty of money for ice cream and to give some to the natural disaster people.”
“Josh…it doesn’t work that way,” I started, and then gave up. And then we got home.
And on my doorstep was the mail.
In the mail was an envelope.
In the envelope was a check for $123. From an overpayment on a student loan I paid off…in 2007.
The kids were not surprised. God was not surprised. They got ice cream. The Red Cross got a donation.
And Mom remembered, yet again, what it means to have the faith of a child.
Sara's story just goes to show that good things can happen to good people, especially when a little faith is involved.
I think we can all agree that Sara is a saint for sending her check to the Red Cross instead of keeping it for herself, her kids, or even for more ice cream.
Please SHARE this story with anyone who needs a pick-me-up!
