“Daddy can I have a dollar?” pleaded Michael as he followed his father around the convenient store.
“Why do you need a dollar son?” he asked.
“I want to buy a Kinder egg. It has a Star Wars toy inside.”
“No Michael. That’s a waste of money. You don’t need that.”
“But I really want one.”
“You have to work for your money,” his father replied “If you do your chores you’ll get your $5 allowance each week. Then you can buy what you want. But you have to work for your money, like I do.”
As the two exited the store they spotted a man leaning by the side of the building. His clothes were worn and dirty, his beard long, gray, and shaggy. He sat on a blanket, with a backpack by his side. Beside him lay a cardboard sign that read “Homeless and hungry. Please help. God Bless.”
Michael’s father reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of dollars and handed them to the man. “Here you go. Get yourself something to eat.”
“Thank You. God Bless you sir,” the man replied.
Michael grew angry. “Daddy, that’s not fair. I’m your son and you wouldn’t give me a dollar, but you gave that man many dollars.”
“He needs it more,” his father replied. “We have to help those less fortunate than us. Do you know what starts tomorrow Michael?”
“Is it Spring?”
“Not quite Michael. It is Lent. It's time to prepare for Easter. Lent is a time to pray. It is a time to be extra generous to those less fortunate. And it is a time to sacrifice.”
“What’s sacrifice?” asked Michael.
“To Sacrifice is to give something up that we like, or that keeps us from God, from now until Easter. What I’m going to sacrifice is coffee.”
“And what happens to you if you drink coffee. Will you be in trouble?”
“No son, but do you know what I am going to do. Each time I mess up and drink coffee I will put 10 dollars in a coffee can, and at the end of Lent, whatever is in that can I will give away to those less fortunate, like that homeless man.”
“I want to do it too Daddy. I can give up candy. I love candy. And if I do my chores and get my allowance, I will put $1 in the can every time I mess up.”
“That sounds like a great plan,” his father replied. “Especially the part about doing your chores.”
Lent began, and both Michael and his father started off strong, giving up those things they enjoyed most. Michael started doing his chores again, and by Saturday had earned his $5 allowance. But as the next week progressed, Michael started to crack. Monday he ate a Hershey bar and deposited a dollar into the coffee can. Wednesday he had Skittles, and Thursday a Kit Kat. By the time he got his next allowance on Saturday he had just $2 remaining from his original $5. The next week was even worse. He found himself eating candy everyday, twice on Wednesday.
As the weeks wore on Michael started asking for extra chores, as Lent was costing him more money than his allowance would take in. His father never realized how big his son’s candy addiction had gotten. It was unhealthy. That night at dinner he decided to bring it up.
When he sat down at the table Michael did not seem to want to each much. The chocolate on the side of his lips gave away why.
“Michael,” his father said. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“What is it Daddy?”
“It’s about Lent. Do you know how we talked about sacrificing something?
“Yes Daddy.”
“Well you seem to be having a hard time with it. I’ve noticed all of the candy you’ve been eating. It seems like you’re eating even more than you did before Lent. What’s going on?”
“Well I thought about what you said Daddy. About helping others. And I want to be able to help that homeless man. Now since I have to donate $1 for every piece of candy I eat, I thought the best way to help that man was to eat a lot of candy.”
His father smiled. “Oh Michael, I’m so proud of you. For four weeks I’ve gone without coffee, but in doing so I haven’t even added $1 to the can. But over that same four weeks you’ve given $23. Thank you.”
“Thank you for what Daddy?”
“Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of Lent. You know, every morning I spend $2 on a cup of coffee. So by giving up coffee I’ve saved over 50 dollars.” He reached into his wallet, pulled out three 20 dollar bills, rolled them up, and placed them in the can. “It’s about time I learn to sacrifice like you. But Michael, just know that you don’t have to eat Candy to give money. You can feel free to give whatever and whenever you want.”
Michael smiled. “Thanks Daddy. I’m glad. I never thought I would say this but I am sick of candy.”
The next day Michael and his father walked back to the convenient store. The homeless man was sitting in his normal spot.
“Can I do it Daddy?” Michael asked?
“Of course son.” He handed him the stack of cash.
Michael walked up to the man and introduced himself. “Hi Mister. I’m Michael. What’s your name?”
“Nice to meet you Michael,” the man replied. “I’m Carl.”
“Hi Carl,” he replied. “I know you are hungry so I wanted to help you get some food.” He handed Carl the stack of money.
Carl’s eyes widened as he thumbed through the bills. Then his face grew flush with reservation. He tried handing them back. “No, no, I can’t take this much money from a child,” he replied.
“No, please, keep it,” replied Michael. “I’m celebrating Lent.”
The man looked down at the bills again and then back up at Michael. His eyes filled with tears. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew Chapter 18, verses 1-3,” he muttered. “God Bless you young man. You just fed me for a week.”
“God Bless you too Mister,” Michael replied. “And Happy Lent.”