A lady stood by a vending machine frustrated at the machine that had eaten her last 50 cents. She had a $20 bill in her pocket but didn't want to use it for the snack she craved. She turned around nearly knocking over a man that had walked up behind her. He noticed the look of frustration on her face and kindly asked her if she was okay. The lady remarked that the machine had eaten her change.

The man graciously commented that he had a dollar and would make purchases for both of them. The lady brightened up at this. The man handed her the snack and she thanked him and went away.

A few days later the lady was making another purchase at the vending machine and the same gentleman passed by her. She stopped him and exclaimed that she had something for him. She handed him 50 cents and thanked him for his generosity earlier that week.

The man shooked his head and scoffed at the money. He responded that what he had done was no big deal and he certainly didn't need his 50 cents back. The lady insisted that he take the money. The man unappreciatively took the change, shaking his head in disgust. He thought to himself that this woman was silly to make such a big deal about 50 cents.

It was the end of the day and the man was in a hurry to make it home. While enroute, he decided to stop by the corner convenience store to make a purchase. After getting what he needed he stood in line behind a tired and disheveled looking mother with a screaming baby. The man rolled his eyes and wished he hadn't come into this line.

When the mother got to the front of the line she put a can of baby formula on the counter and the clerk rang up the item. The mother sheepishly put down her money on the counter and stated that she was short only 50 cents. She asked the clerk if she would be kind enough to give her the formula anyway. The clerk shook her head "no" and requested the mother leave the line.

The man behind the mother became impatient and irritated. He had been kicked several times by the screaming baby and to make matters worse the mother didn't appear to want to leave the line. The mother broke down in tears and explained she had no more money and her baby was hungry. She tried again to see if the clerk would let her purchase the formula with the money she had, but the clerk did not budge.

The mother slowly began to walk away when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Here." The man quietly said.

"Maybe this can help you get the milk you need for you baby." And handed the mother the 50 cents he had been given earlier that day. Through chokes of tears the mother profusely thanked the man. As he walked away he thought of the events earlier that day when the lady had insisted he take the 50 cents and how rudely he acted toward her. He felt ashamed of himself.

Is it difficult for you to humble yourself and accept small change repayments? Do you have enough faith to believe that even the smallest gifts can be used by God?

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