“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

These wise words from Winston Churchill are just as true for fathers. The greatest fathers are the greatest givers.

This also applies to Dads4Kids. We exist as an organisation to provide our children with the best start in life and turn the tide of fatherlessness.

Improvement is always possible, so none of us can ever say that we’ve got it all together. We need to be open to new ideas to assist the children in each of our worlds who suffer from fatherlessness.

Some time ago, a good friend of mine, Darryl Mills, sent me this story about a young girl with the subject heading ,”Power of an Idea”.

Power of an Idea

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church, from which she had been turned away because it was “too crowded.” “I can’t go to Sunday School,” she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Noticing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, led her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class.

The child was so happy they found room for her. That night, she went to bed thinking about the children who lacked a place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay lifeless in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kind-hearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to manage the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found, which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 

“This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.”

For two years, she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he instantly knew what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked red pocketbook to the pulpit, he recounted the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there…

A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents. Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years, the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000.00–a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid a large dividend.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where tens of thousands of students are educated. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building, you can see a picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such a remarkable history. Alongside it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book Acres of Diamonds.

This is a story that shows what God can do with fifty-seven cents.

Sacrificial Giving: Power of Love

For some reason, as I read this story, I began to cry and had to ask myself why this story about a young girl’s sacrificial giving affected me so much. Perhaps it was because I could relate to children like her. My upbringing wasn’t exactly perfect; for at least half of my first twelve years, I was without a father.

Maybe this young girl was as well. I really don’t know. All I know is that millions of kids grow up without the love of a father, both here and around the globe.

Dads4Kids, while advocating for men as fathers, is not a father’s rights organisation. Our primary goal is to turn fathers’ hearts towards their children. Children are the main beneficiaries of loving fathers. Dads4Kids is all about unconditional love.

There’s nothing like the beautiful innocence of a child. The little girl in the story displayed unconditional love for the children around her. Her sacrificial giving of 57 cents was multiplied ‘exceedingly abundantly, above all she could ask or think’ – such is the power of love.

Dads4Kids has achieved a lot over the last two decades with very little, yet there is still so much more to be done. Watch Nat and myself, as we share some of our story from the past twenty years.

Lovework

Share the story of this little girl’s selfless giving with your kids and family.

It will inspire them. You, too, can change history through the power of love.

Yours for unconditional love,

Warwick Marsh

PS: If you’re encouraged by Dads4Kids’ work and would like to invest in the future of Australia’s children, please consider supporting Dads4Kids during our end-of-financial-year June Appeal. Every donation is tax-deductible. Our goal is to raise $300,000.

Just like the little girl, you too can change history through the power of love and selfless giving. Ideas hold immense power. Every donation counts. Become a history maker, make a DONATION NOW.

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Image via Adobe.