GIVING IN SECRET

...and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:4b. (KJV)

She sat in the chapel, waiting until the parishioners and the priest left. Her heart raced. She was afraid the priest would come back in and ask her to leave. Once she was assured of being alone, she quietly climbed the altar steps. Her only interest was the torn lace scarf on the mantle.

She found the long tear in the lace. She would use the talent God gave her to repair it. She took the white thread and needle and, working quickly, weaved the thread in and out of the lace as the tear became smaller and smaller.

She was not aware the priest had returned. He stood watching as her hands sewed the fine stitches in the lacework. He moved closer. Then she saw him.

Startled, she stopped sewing and faced him. He stared at her, and nodding slightly, he smiled and left the sanctuary. Heart pounding and hands trembling, she dropped the needle. Picking it up, she continued sewing. Within minutes, she finished mending the lace. She could not tell where the tear had been. It was fully restored. Cutting the thread, she genuflected and left the chapel.

In the cool air, she breathed a sigh of relief and satisfaction. She felt she had done a good deed for the Lord. She would tell no one. God knew. That was enough because she had given her talent in secret, she knew God would openly reward her someday.

Dear Lord, may more Christians think of acts of kindness to bestow on one another as if they were doing it for You. Amen.

© 2017  Evelyn B. Ryan