The Tithe

The parson sat in the chancel. He'd just handed the collection plates to the ushers said the offertory prayer, and returned to his seat. He noticed the usher on his right side had collected offerings on pews almost all the way to the rear. The ushers on the left side were still on the second pew.

The parson watched more closely. The plate was on the lap of a ten-year-old. She had a pen and paper resting on it. She was writing on the paper. Suddenly she nodded her head up and down in the affirmative. She reached to her side and retrieved her small purse. She subtracted a five dollar bill and placed it in the plate. The plate was then passed on down the row and then got passed the the pew behind. Finally, it arrived in the rear with the other side. At that point everyone rose to sing the Doxology.

After the service the girl's mother approached the parson. “I'm sorry Helen delayed the offering,” she said.

“What happened?” asked the parson.

“Well, she did three or four things to earn money this week. And then when we got to church this morning her grandfather and an aunt gave her some money. She decided when school was out that she was going to tithe what she made. So when the plate came she was adding up how much money she had in her purse and at home and figuring up the ten percent.”

The parson smiled. On the way to his study he sung the Doxology one more time.

Comments

[wondering aloud]

maybe i will now never again view the offetory in the same way .............

:)