Ring Those Bells

Picture from 2007

This year I decided to go back to ringing bells for the Salvation Army because of being unemployed and still trying to finish college. I did this awhile back about (around 2007 when I wrote this post) three years in a row.

It is amazing the things you learn. Here are the things I always see:

1. A small child asking her parent if she can put money into the pot and the parent tells her she can put her own money in if she wants. The child comes up with a beautiful smile on her face and opens her purse and pulls out all the bills she had in her purse and puts them in. Then she dumps her change purse. Then she digs to the bottom of the purse and puts in all the extra change found there. Then quickly smiles and runs off before I can offer her candy from the SA apron I'm wearing. In the Spiritual Life of a Christian I see in this child a trust that we need to learn. Her supply does not depend on her but her Father (or Mother). She can give all because her Father will replace it. She trusts Him. Like-wise we should be able to give of ourselves freely because we trust in God the Father to supply our needs. And do it with a smile.
2. I have to laugh at the one's who come by and put a nickel, dime or some pennies, then comment,"I might better give because I might need them one day". This is ridiculous at the least. The Lord does not bless because of a gift but by His mercies. There is a law for giving that says we will get back what we give with interest (so-to-speak). So I hope they get their dimes worth. Give from the heart, that's were the Lord looks. The Bible is full of the right way to give. Giving to get isn't it.
3. Also I see many people who just walk by and ignore you. These people are probably tired of hearing the bells and feeling guilty because they don't think they can afford to give. Unknowing all the Army wishes to get is pocket change. They would like more but they know if everyone gave there pocket change, it would add up and supply the need. One thing I believe is that we should "glean" from our shopping. When the time comes to pay, don't pay the correct change down to the cent. Use larger bills so that you would have change left on purpose to give. This is a biblical concept called gleaning. Were the workers in the fields would not harvest the grain that they drop so the poor could pick it up for themselves. This is a good way to do it and do it as an act of worship.
4. People in general may seem rude and lack manners. This is a result of the dehumanizing of people in our schools and teaching that we are only animals without a need for morals.
5. There was some very bright spots to speak of. One person came up and stated that She had needed the Army to help with giving gifts to her children for the past two years but today she didn't and wanted to help.

All-in-all it was a good experience and I recomend it to all.