I wanted you to know what God has recently done in my life through reading Money, Possessions and Eternity. I've read ton of your books and passed them along to lots of friends, but I'd never read this one. It, of course, has been incredibly convicting and inspiring. God has used it to deeply stir my heart to take our giving to the next level. I recently looked at our budget to see what we could cut in order to give more.
     The thing that God illuminated for me was our kids' preschool. We have three little ones, 3 ½, 2, and a 4-month-old. I stay at home with them. While I love our kids so, so, so much, it doesn't come easy to stay at home with them all day. The preschool is for two days per week (7 hours total) for the two oldest. It is my lifeline. I can't begin to describe how much I love it. Even telling my husband that I thought God might want me to give it up, I burst into tears.
     Yesterday in church, God made it clear that I was to let it go. I knew He was asking me to trust Him with my sanity and my kids' "development" (I know they are young, but I don't enjoy any of the things that the preschool does like crafts, music, etc. and they love those things). It's only 7 hours per week, but it costs $320/month. My sweet husband told me I could give the money away any way that I would like. So, we are going to give more to our church, more to this ministry that we already support that helps orphans in Russia, and start giving to Food for the Hungry for the kids in Ethiopia.
     It's difficult to describe how raw I still am in thinking about not having my free time this fall. But, it's also hard to describe my anticipation in how God is going to meet me on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I can't wait to start giving to those ministries. And then one day, I get to see those kids face to face in Heaven…tears fill my eyes as I write this. Thank you for helping me let something so dear to me go. I know the "sacrifice" is minimal compared to how it will help others, and the eternal value is immeasurable. - B. G.