Debbie Macomber - One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity

One Simple Act

Debbie Macomber

Discovering the
Power of Generosity

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One Simple Act 2009 Debbie Macomber

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Macomber, Debbie.
One simple act / Debbie Macomber.
p. cm.
1. Generosityreligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.
BV4647.G45M33 2009
241.4dc22 2009030449
ISBN 978-1-4391-0893-2
ISBN 978-1-4391-6697-0 (ebook)
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Edited by Cindy Lambert
Interior Design by Jessica Shatan Heslin/Studio Shatan, Inc.

Scripture quotations not otherwise marked are taken from the Holy Bible, New
International Version . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked The
Message are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001,
2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

To my incredible Aunt Betty Stierwalt,
who is celebrating her hundredth birthday.
Her example of generosity and love
inspires all who know her.

One Simple Act

Give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Kate stepped out of her bookstore at the end of a long, tiring day, locked the door behind her, pulled her scarf up over her nose and mouth to shield her lungs from the bitter cold air, and rushed across the lot to her car. Just one quick stop at the grocery store and shed be on the way home to cuddle up with her new book in front of a warm fire.

As she waited at the traffic light to turn into the grocery store lot, she took off one glove to feel if the air blasting out of the heat vents was starting to warm. Ah, yes. What a relief. In the few minutes it had taken her to get from her bookstore to the grocery store, her fingers had started to ache from the cold. I think I was born with cold fingers, she muttered. The light changed to green, and as she turned into the lot she came alongside a narrow median strip and noticed a man holding a crudely made hand-lettered cardboard sign: HOMELESS. NEED FOOD. PLEASE HELP. At his feet was a small white plastic bucket. His collar was pulled high against the cold, but her eyes went to his hands holding the sign. Bare hands.

My fingers ache from five minutes in this cold car, with gloves on. How cold must his be? she wondered. Her eyes went to his face. Late twenties, probably six or seven years older than Mark. The sudden thought of her son instantly made her shoulders sag. She hadnt seen Mark since summer. Addicted to drugs, Mark had left home several months ago after a two-year strugglemaybe war was a better wordwith his parents over his drug abuse. He still called sometimes, but hed been bunking with friends, house hopping, and hed even slept on the streets rather than come back home. Never had she felt so helpless as shed felt watching her son self-destruct during these past two years, never so powerless to meet the deep needs of the son she loved. But he wasnt ready to give up his drugs or his illusion of freedom. He remained elusive about his whereabouts and declined every offer Kate made to meet him someplace to talk. Where is he tonight? Cold and hungry like this guy? Begging on some street corner? And if a kind stranger gives him a ten-dollar bill, hell buy his next hit of pills before buying a warm meal. Kates heart sank. Are Marks hands cold tonight?

And then it came to her. A quiet nudge. She parked, hurried into the store to pick up bread, eggs, and some yogurt for the weekend, then hit one more aisle. Through the checkout, a dash back to her car, and back along the other side of the median strip, where she pulled alongside the young man, rolled down her window, and stopped. Her heart picked up its pace. He walked over to her car, bucket held out, but she didnt hand any money out the window. Instead she held out a warm pair of gloves shed just bought. He looked startled.

Your hands must be terribly cold, she said. I hope these help. The young man looked confused for a moment, then accepted the gloves. Thanks, he said.

The car behind her honked and she pulled away and moved toward the intersection. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw him pulling on the gloves. She blinked to clear a few tears away. They were warm on her cold cheeks, but another warmth from somewhere in her core was spreading upward, and she found herself smiling.

For the first time in a long time she didnt feel powerless at the thought of Mark. Take care of my son tonight, Lord, she prayed. Show him Your love through the kindness of a stranger. And Lord, comfort the mother of that young man tonight.

In that one simple act Kate had discovered the power of generosity. Shed not only warmed a troubled young man, shed kindled a spark of hope for Mark. And she realized that God had just used her to care for the son of another worried mother. Who knows, maybe the young man on the median strip called his mother that night.

Just one simple act.

Youve read the subtitle of this book, Discovering the Power of Generosity. If you recognized my name on the cover of the book you may be asking yourself why a writer known for fiction is writing a nonfiction book on generosity. The answer is... well... if you dont mind me quoting the title... simple. Have you ever discovered something so great that you just had to tell your friends? You know, like a great little vacation spot you stumbled across while on a trip, or a new clothing store with affordable prices, great selection, and really stellar service? Maybe youve heard a speaker who had a huge impact on you or saw a movie that made you laugh till you cried and you knew just the friend who needed it. When we find something we love, we want to share it with others and spread the joy. Right? That is how I feel about simple acts of generosity. I have had some encounters with generosityas the recipient, the giver, the witnessthat have had a profoundly life-changing impact on me. Ive just got to share the news.