Hidden Rewards (inspirational)

[Guest guest]

Lovingly shared by a friend.......

 

HIDDEN REWARDS Once when there was a famine, a kind, rich baker sent for twenty

of the poorest children in the town, and said to them, "In this basket there is

a loaf for each of you. Take it, and come back to me every day at this hour

till God sends us better times." The hungry children gathered eagerly about the

basket, and most quarreled over the bread, because each wished to have the

largest loaf. At last they went away without even thanking the good gentleman.

But Gretchen, a poorly dressed little girl, did not quarrel or struggle with

the rest, but remained standing quietly to the side. When the ill-behaved

children had left, she took the smallest loaf, which alone was left in the

basket, kissed the gentleman's hand, and went home. The next day the children

were as ill-behaved as before, and poor, timid Gretchen received a loaf

scarcely half the size of the one she got the first day. When she went home,

and her mother cut the loaf open, many new shining pieces of silver fell out of

it. Her mother was very much alarmed, and said, "Take the money back to the good

gentleman at once, for it must have gotten into the dough by accident. Be quick,

Gretchen! Be quick!"

But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, "No,

no, my child, it was no mistake. I had the silver pieces put into the smallest

loaf to reward you. Always be as contented, kind, and thankful as you now are.

Go home now, and tell your mother that the money is your own." If we give to

others, yield to them to make them happy, or put their wishes above our own, we

can sometimes feel like we're losing out. But we're not really. God sees such

unselfishness, and He will reward it. We never lose by giving.

 

Duty is God, Work is Worship