$20 💵

Tried to carry today’s devotion with me and apply it throughout the hours of the day. Won’t lie—it was more challenging than expected. Found myself actively looking for opportunities to put it into practice, yet with some family currently in town, much of my attention has been shifted on finding things for us to do thus making it difficult.

The background of the devotion catered towards uplifting others and sharing positivity. Reminded me that we never know what someone else may be carrying. A simple act of kindness, encouragement, generosity, or a positive interaction could mean more to someone than we will ever know. And while those things may bless someone else, they also shape us from the inside.

Later in the evening, I stopped by a restaurant to pick up some takeout. Mom had been craving sushi but was too tired from our long walks earlier to come with. When arriving at the place, I sat at the bar, ordered my usual soda water with ginger beer and waiting for the food. When ready, I paid, thanked the bartender, and got up to leave. As I pushed the chair back into place, I noticed a folded $20 bill lying on the floor. There was no one beside me on either side of the bar, so I looked left and right, trying to figure out who it might belong to. Everyone seemed to be going about their evening, completely unaware. First thought was to give the money to the bartender and tell her that someone must have dropped it. But then I questioned what if she pockets it? What if she forgets and takes it home? So instead I took it with me.

Almost immediately as I drove off, I felt the guilt.

That $20 belonged to someone and felt like I had missed the opportunity to live out what I had just spent reflecting on. Wasn’t until later in the evening that another thought came to me: Just because I’m $20 richer doesn’t mean I have to put that $20 in my bank account. Maybe it’s about what I do with it.

Perhaps God put that bill in my hand so as not to keep it, but hold onto until someone else has a need for it. Maybe I just need to recognize the opportunity when it comes.

That thought lifted some of the weight from my shoulders, but also gave me something to think about. Sometimes we expect God to give us obvious opportunities to serve. But maybe they aren’t always apparent.

Occasionally He puts people, circumstances, and unexpected moments in our path for reasons we may not understand. We may not always recognize the purpose in the moment, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

So for now, I think I’m going to carry this $20 with me. Not as money that I found, but as a reminder to look up, pay attention and be generous. And when the right opportunity presents itself, I hope to recognize it without hesitation and know exactly where that $20 is supposed to go next.