My last $20. It’s burning in my pocket. 20 singles, 2 tens, 4 fives, or however you wanna look at it. There is so much you can do with a $20. Contrary to what we have been forced to believe. In college that $20 alone could last me a whole week! Every fast food chain now has a dollar menu, gas is at an unbelievable low, and you can catch a matinee movie, local play, or buy an awesome bargain outfit. I know because I did it. Last night, while out on the town I realized I had one last $20 in my pocket. As I rummaged my purse for the endless amount of money that was supposed to be there, I realized it was down to just that one bill. I still had not eaten, been on my outing for the night, nor put gas in my car. I immediately looked up to the sky and said, “Why Me!!!”. I decided you know what, I’m going to make this $20 work.
First, my girlfriend and I headed downtown to a the 1st ever Chozen Awards held at the historic Hammond House. The awards were honoring Atlanta’s hottest entrepreneurs professionals, entertainers, trendsetters, and other movers and shakers in the city. And best of all it was FREE! I’m learning, more and more, that’s some of the most awesome and gratifying event in the city are free events or put on at a minimal cost by Non-profits and other community organizers. There was free food and free drink ( they even had my favorite wine!). Anyway, afterwards we headed down to this jazzy little sushi bar and I was able to purchase a tasty little special for $7.50. My girl grabbed the tip and we headed a bit further downtown to a swank little jute joint and heard some amazing artist on open mic night! The cover was $5. Yes, I still had $7.50 in my pocket. It’s funny but God works in mysterious ways, and will make you realize just how fortunate you are in a split second. As I went to grab my cell phone I realized that it wasn’t in my purse and I had to have misplaced it somewhere. Aaagghh!!!
We began to frantically retrace our steps and call around to see if any often places we had been had found a cell phone. Nothing. I put the remainder of my money in my gas tank and decided to ride back over to where our night began, at the West End at the Awards Ceremony. As I finished putting gas in my car, I went to reach for the door handle and it broke off! Yes, I somehow HeManned my car door handle it just broke off! Okay, so I look back up to the sky and apologize. I mean honestly, and sincerely. I had been having a wonderful night, with $20 in my pocket, and here I was being ungrateful and frustrated over a cell phone. Completely not acceptable. So, I managed to open my door and we headed back to the West End, Upon arrival my friends phone rang, and one of the ladies who organized the Awards Ceremony had indeed found my phone and had left it with the individuals who ran the museum. It was now closed for the night, but she assured me that I would be able to pick it up today. I headed back down to the West End today and picked up my phone. There is was, in perfect tact.
I spoke with the museum’s Executive Director and I began to share the details of my eventful night. He started to tell me to always be thankful for what I had and that everything in life happens a certain way for a reason. It’s not like it was the first time I had heard those words, but at that moment they became so true and so real. After talking even more about my profession and about my recent degree in Public Relations that I acquired from Morgan State, he offered me a job! “You’re kidding me , right?” I was not only shocked and excited but I also felt so fortunate and ashamed. The director told me I would go very far because of my gracious personality and attitude, and that I had a spirit that drew people to me. As I left the museum I kneeled my head and prayed. “Thank you Father for being so gracious and merciful. I was so undeserving of everything that had happened to me in the last 48 hours, yet I had received so much. I even received some of the kindest words I had ever heard amidst my poor attitude. I will do better, I promise.” I wanted to share this story because all to often we think what we have is minimal or meaningless. I stared my night frustrated with only $20 in my pocket. I questioned God and was very ungrateful. Even so, I ended up having great fun, getting my lost cell phone back, and a job! If that’s not the beauty of our Father in Heaven, I don’t know what is…
