God Honored My Sacrifice... The Story of the Chanel Perfume

So I gave up shopping for lent… Why would a girl ever do that?  Well I did it because while I do personally believe that shopping can be a hobby, I felt that I was becoming discontent with what I had. Nothing was ever enough. I bought a black bag now I need a new brown one. Or, I bought a skirt and now I need a top. Let me be clear I don’t think that having or desiring nice/new things is a sin. However, when you spend excessive amounts of time online shopping or you become dissatisfied with what you have it can become a problem.

 About halfway through giving up shopping for lent I really started to struggle. Now that I can’t shop everything is on sale. I see people with things I want and then I start thinking about how I need to add that to my wardrobe …One day I was at work and a lady came in with this Chanel fragrance that I loved and I complimented her on it. Then I mentally added that to my list of things I’m going to buy when lent is over (which completely defeats the purpose lol).  

Fast forward about 2 and a half weeks later and this same lady comes back to my job but this time on her way out she places the perfume next to me. She said, “I wanted you to have it, you have been so sweet to me.” Ya’ll I was so touched by her kindness, other than seeing me twice she didn’t know me at all but still she gave me her perfume. Then I became inspired by her. What things do I have that I would be willing to give away to others? Because after all, they are things. Finally, as I reflected even more I was grateful to God. I never prayed for the perfume because I thought to myself that I would just buy it. But this situation reminded me that God listens to me even when I'm not praying. And like a good father he meets all my needs and most of my wants.

While I haven’t been perfect with getting rid of the desire to shop for lent God still saw my effort and honored that. He blessed me by having someone give me something that he knew I wanted. God honors your sacrifice. I could have bought the perfume with my own money but it was so much more special to have it given to me. Don’t just look at God to give you the big things like a mate, or a house or career. Seek God and his ways for everything. He cares about all the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4), even the small ones that you fail to mention!