“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16
You never know how a single gift can change a person’s life. You never know how one simple moment of generosity can change the world. Jimi Hendrix is considered one of the greatest guitar players in history. He demonstrated a love for music, especially guitar, from a very early age. He was not really supported by his family, in part because they did not have extra money to spend on things like instruments. One day Jimi and his father were cleaning a neighbor’s garage for money. They found an old ukulele with only one strig. The homeowner told Jimi he could keep it if he would like to do so. With only one string, a gift was revealed.
More recently, a special gift was made to a teenager named Fallon. Fallon is a young man who loves music. He loves the guitar. He often goes to the local music store to play the guitars on display. He has a dream guitar in that store. It is a bright blue “Flying V” guitar. It is the same one played by Darrell Abbott, the now deceased lead guitarist of the band, Pantera.
One day, Fallon was in the store playing his favorite guitar when a stranger witnessed the joy on Fallon’s face. After Fallon finished playing, the stranger (who remains anonymous) went to the store owner and bought the Flying V… for Fallon. The next time Fallon came to the store to play music, the employees joyfully presented the guitar to him. It was an amazing gift and a moment that truly blessed Fallon, his family, and everyone who witnessed this gift.
The teenager’s mom posted about the special gift on social media. She wanted everyone to know, “There are still good people in the world.” The post went viral. Everyone was excited to see this special moment. It did not take long for the members of Pantera to see the post. They reached out to the music store and sent a special care package to Fallon. They loved to see his passion for music and his excitement to play the same guitar Darrell had played.
Our generosity makes a difference. When we give a small gift like a ukulele with one string, or a new guitar, we help dreams to come true. When we look to our neighbors and offer our work, our gifts, and our prayers for one another, we help to bring joy, and life abundant to others and to God’s kingdom. Offering the best of ourselves to help others is how we build a better world.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
