I believe that you reap what you sow.
What you put into something, you will get back a million times over. The way I look, the way I think, the way I speak, and the way I lead my family is all a result of either the good or bad that I have put into my life. It is true that we “reap what we sow”. Our minds and our hearts are good examples of this. If we put junk in we will get junk out, if we put good and positive messages in, the positive will come out. I sometimes feel like we truly do not understand the power of our choices. The choices that we make today will determine not only our future, but the future of those around us. If one donates money or clothes to the homeless or a shelter, they will receive something back. At times it is not always through monetary reward or more clothes, but in some other small way. It has been said that you cannot give what you do not have. One must value themselves first and foremost. My pastor, Mark, had once told me a story in which he reaped and sowed. He was newly married and he and his wife had had no money. They had no idea what they were going to do about food, rent, or dealing with any aspect of living independently. The pastor was offered a job at the local church, yet would not receive payment until further notice due to building that was being done. The pastor and his wife had gone to church that Sunday without having eaten for four days. The offering basket was passed around and his wife had been waving their last twenty dollar bill in the air. She asked if she should put it in, and he replied yes. She put it in the offering, and they went home. That night they sat around their small dining table and the pastor stated, “So, maybe we can afford something from the McDonald’s Dollar Menu or something.” His wife replied by saying, “But you told me to put the last of our money in the offering basket.” Both exhausted and hungry, the pastor wept. Just then his doorbell had rung and a neighbor had bought over a large roasted chicken that she had left over from dinner. The pastor was surprised and gladly accepted the kind gesture from the neighbor. The chicken had fed him and his wife for days. The next day he had received his pay from the church. As the days progressed neighbors had kept food in the pastor’s home without even knowing that he was in a financial bind. Placing his last twenty dollars in the offering, had given him food to eat every night. In not being selfish, but caring, he was given back what he had given up. When others are not greedy or self interested, they will gain back what they have put forth.