A TIMELINE

6/08 Silas joins the grade school group at church. We tell him that we'll budget a certain amount per month for grade school activities. He knows that if costs go above that amount he'll have to use his own money to make up the difference or skip the activity.

9/08-12/08 Despite an income decrease and the loss of a budget for our flex funds, including grade school activities, Silas has been able to attend all grade school events that worked with our schedule. Usually we've had random money to pay for the activities and once his way was paid as a gift.

1/14/09 Silas finds out there will be a grade school bowling night on 1/23 and it costs $20. We tell him that our budget for the month is already done and we don't have the money to send him. He offers to pay his own way, then realizes he only has $13. We talk about how sometimes the Lord provides for things we can't afford and how sometimes we just have to miss out on things we'd like to do. Then we pray, asking the Lord to provide a way to go to the bowling night and accepting the fact that sometimes the answer is "no".

1/15/09 Each of the kids receives an unexpected monetary gift for no other reason than "just because". Silas counts out his stack of one dollar bills. There are ten and when he reaches seven he says "Now I can go bowling!".

1/18/09 Silas takes an envelope to church filled with $13 from his own spending envelope and $7 from the gift and signs up for the bowling night.

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

It's neat to share in those faith-building moments with your kids!!