"115 tickets!" squealed the one tightly gripping a small clear bag with ribbons of blue inside it.
For the past two weeks, my oldest daughter has been eagerly anticipating winning more tickets at the arcade on her next Daddy & Daughter Date. She already has 115 in her hand, and today's the day to win more. She has been calculating and re-calculating all the prizes she could and would like to get. And off they go on their fun date.
A couple hours pass, and the car pulls up into the driveway. She has her loot. But much less than I anticipated she would bring home. Only two hand fans and two little pieces of candy. And no clear bag with a bundle of blue tickets in it. But she is wearing a huge smile on her sweet little face.
"Mommy, I got a fan...and one for Ella too! And I got us some candy too!" she declares joyfully.
"That is super sweet of you, Honey. How did you do at the arcade...did you win lots of tickets?" I ask curiously, as I expected to see more prizes in her hand.
"YES! I won 157 more!! That means I had 272 tickets, isn't that awesome!" she proclaims with such pride in her eyes.
"Wow...you are getting really good at that game, Sweetie. So, do you have any tickets left over, or did the fans and candy cost 272 tickets?" I ask.
"Oh no. These weren't that much at all. But, as I was playing I saw a boy who didn't have any tokens or tickets. He was just standing alone and watching everyone play. I don't think he had any money to play so he could get prizes. So, I gave him all the tickets that I had in my hand. And he smiled!" explains my tender-hearted seven-year-old.
I look at my husband with a smile. He nods with gladness. I can imagine the joy that must have filled his heart to witness it firsthand. Then I smile at my precious child. Moments like these bring such joy to my heart, "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4.
I begin to tell her of my thankfulness and joy over her act of love towards that lonely boy. And how pleased I am that she even thought of her little sister when picking out prizes (Phil. 2:4). I tell her that her good works encourage me to do the same (Heb. 10:24); that watching her love like Jesus makes me want to, too.
There is so much in this story that I was encouraged and spurred on by: the childlike joy of enjoying what God has given (the tickets and fun), the joyful and willing sacrifice of letting it go for the sake of another (giving away her tickets), the eyes to see the need (recognizing the lonely boy), the tender-heartedness to respond to the need (giving the tickets to him), and the contentment to continue playing afterward and share what remains with another (bringing gifts home for her sister). I'm thankful for her example, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in...conduct, love, faith...show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:12.
The thing I may love most about this story is the simplicity of it all. My daughter simply went on her regular bi-weekly date with her daddy and left there being a blessing. And not only to the boy and to her sister, but also to me and her daddy...all because she chose to love. She didn't go on her date with a well-thought-out ministry plan. She went to enjoy time with her daddy and allowed herself to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in her heart...and followed that leading...resulting in Gospel-living. And not to the praise and glory of her, but to the praise and glory of Him who loved her first - Jesus. "We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19.
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