By Kristin Wall, member at FBC
A dear friend and artist had a garage sale one weekend to raise money for a project she had been working on for our church. She asked for garage sale donations from friends and family, and by Friday night, she had raised more than enough to pay for the art supplies.
Saturday morning, a woman with three children approached my friend looking for a free table. Upon discovering she was from Women’s Space, my friend walked into her house and began disassembling her own dining room table. Delivering the table and seeing gratefulness overflow from this family sparked an idea in my friend’s heart. Feeling very blessed already from the sale and having still a lot of items to sell, a decision was made and a sign created which read:
EVERYTHING FREE!
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:45
We Have Been Blessed,
Now Let Us Bless You
God Bless You!
People’s reactions were surprising: The first lady gave us money anyway. The second gentlemen instantly thanked us and said, “This is so nice because so many people are really hurting right now.” Upon leaving with a box of stuff, his thanks came again but this time with an additional comment: “I’m hurting now too since my family is separating, and I am looking for a place to live.” The man was humbled; prayer was offered on his behalf; and God “showed up” at the garage sale.
Watching the reactions from people reading the sign was amazing. People would stand quietly and read, then look up and say, “Really? Why?” Others would read the sign and begin to tear up. The “thank yous” and unexpected comments of “God is good” as well as the open dialog that resulted with the shoppers were awe-inspiring. Several neighbors arrived, commented on how deeply touched they were, and my friend began to connect with her neighbors in a whole new way. The blessings and opportunities this small gesture brought to members of our community were so worth the forgoing of a few dollars. My friend had no idea when she offered this small “gift” (a few fish and a few loaves) how much God would multiply and feed all those around. Thank you GOD!
Wouldn’t it be amazing if these “free garage sales” began to pop up all over our community? I think God would “show up” again and open doors to share His free gift and His unconditional LOVE right in our own backyards, driveways, and neighborhood churches!
“Freely you have received, freely give.” Matt 10:8