Home Church in Las Vegas- Snippet

During the summer months when the children were out of school, the handful of members doing Home Church in Las Vegas decided to work together and create sports events for all of the children in our areas. 

$4.00  
One afternoon I was on an errand with the group leader; we were picking up photographs that had been developed at the drug store. The photos were of the neighborhood youth in our sports contests. I looked at the paperwork and mentioned that the expense was high. The group leader said it was all for a good purpose; now he could revisit the homes and share the photos with each family. That sounded reasonable. Then I noticed that he had paid someone $4.00 to type up the contest results. “I could have written everything up nicely and saved that $4.00”, I lamented. The leader responded sensibly, “You’re making a big fuss over nothing. Why are you worrying about $4.00?” He left me in the van and went into the store. I sat there thinking, “Am I wrong? Am I being petty?”
Along with being a top fundraiser, I was also very frugal. One month-back in CA-  the center had a competition; who could save the most money from our meal stipend. I won. I didn’t spend a single penny. I asked Mexican laborers to buy me tacos at the food trucks if they didn’t give a donation. 
But I think this had more to do with the value I attached to money from my experiences earning it. There have been days when I made 25 cents an hour for a stretch - and not from being lazy; I was asking people exiting the grocery store and running after them into the parking lot to buy carnations or give a donation. Somehow - those extreme trials must have become etched into my bones. Four dollars equated sixteen hours of hard labor on a hot day. “I’d better step back and get some perspective”, I decided. "My group leader is probably right”. 
Just then, he came out of the drugstore and began looking back and forth, then finally came to the van. I asked him, “Did you forget where you parked?” “No”, he replied. “I found this money on the ground, but I didn’t see anyone around who could have dropped it.” It was exactly $4.00. 
I silently laughed; an angel dropped it. To God, every penny is precious; He wants us to be good stewards, but more importantly, He zeros in on our motivation. He honored my sincerity. How tender-hearted God is. How incredibly kind!