Hi Good Shepherd,
Last month, GS Kids made an exciting (and slightly chaotic) purchase—a gumball machine. If you’ve been to our North Oak campus recently, you’ve probably seen it. It’s stationed just inside the Gathering Space… which also happens to be right outside my office.
From that vantage point, I’ve witnessed the magnetic pull this machine has on our kids—especially during GS Kids and Little Lambs pick-up and drop-off. Their eyes widen. Their pace slows. They stare longingly at the bright swirl of candy trapped behind glass.
There’s just one catch: each gumball costs a quarter. And as any parent knows, not many of us walk around with pockets full of change.
Cue the meltdowns.
(I can confirm my 5-year-old daughter has contributed significantly to the drama.)
But then something happened this past Sunday that stopped me in my tracks.
A young girl—new to Good Shepherd and new to GS Kids—decided that everyone deserved a gumball. So she came to church that morning with a purse full of quarters. Not just for herself, but for all the kids.
As everyone gathered for worship, she pulled out her pocketbook, opened it up, and started handing out quarters one by one.
Before long, a crowd of kids surrounded the machine, each one with a quarter in hand and eventually, a bulging cheek full of sugary joy. Their faces lit up with delight—not because of the candy, but because someone thought of them.
Now, I don’t know where she got the quarters. Maybe her mom gave them to her. Maybe she raided the couch cushions or made a personal trip to the bank. But here’s what I do know: her generosity taught me something.
As adults, it’s easy to hold tightly to what we have. To give only when it’s convenient. To focus our generosity on the people closest to us. But here was this young girl—new to the community, with no agenda—modeling the generous, open-hearted spirit of God.
She didn’t ask who deserved a quarter. She just gave.
What if we did the same?
What if we walked into each day asking not what can I keep, but what can I give?
Whether it’s your time, your attention, your resources, or your encouragement—there’s someone in your life who could use a quarter-sized act of kindness this week.
So here’s your challenge: Find one small, unexpected way to be generous this week. Not because someone earned it, but because that’s who you are becoming in Christ.
Because sometimes it only takes a quarter to make someone’s day.
And sometimes, the smallest people show us the biggest truths.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. You won’t want to miss this Sunday as we continue our Entourage series! We’ll dive into the story of one of Jesus’ closest followers—and explore what shoes and fantasy movies (yes, really!) can teach us about faith, failure, and growth.
Plus, we’re celebrating Father’s Day with ice cream floats after each service—because what better way to honor the dads and father-figures in our lives than with a sweet treat and some spiritual encouragement?
Bring a friend, bring your dad, bring your sweet tooth—we’ll see you Sunday!
Matt I was looking at the church website and saw your Matt notes. I read a couple and was impressed. I will continue to read and catch up on them. I also look dory to seeing new posts.