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When tough times come our way, we should not lose heart and think that’s
the end of the story. Instead, we must remember Whose we are and stand
firm confidently knowing that God has a purpose and plan for our life that
will be brought to fruition. We must magnify our God and minimize our
problem because the Lord has the answer to every negative situation that
may come our way. There is nothing too hard for God and it is pleasing to
the Lord when we show our steadfast faith in Him that all will be well. The
Bible declares in Jeremiah 32:17 “Ah Lord GOD! behold, Thou hast made the
heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is
nothing too hard for Thee.” Be encouraged to trust the Lord in every area
of your life and know that God will never leave you nor forsake you.
I hope this message encourages your heart to depend on the Lord when tough
times come your way knowing that He is The Rock who will sustain you and
The Comforter who will not let you go.
MEARS FAMILY STORE
Bernard Mears had arrived in America in his mother's arms.
He was two years old in 1878. The Mears family were all hard workers and
made a place for themselves in the land of opportunity.
Bernie was smart and wanted to be his own boss. When Bernie was 25 he took
a wife. Bernie had saved some money and decided on a dry goods and grocery
store combined.
He and Marie found an empty building to rent and proceeded to fill it with
inventory. There was an apartment upstairs. They were not blessed with
children, so the two of them worked side by side to become established and
build a trade.
Marie had a knack for arranging the merchandise to appeal to customers and
Bernie didn't mind the long hours. He was happy, life was good.
The business thrived until the great depression hit the entire country. No
one had money to purchase pretty things or even food. In 1930, Marie had a
heart attack and left Bernie alone.
Following Marie's death, which Bernie felt was brought about from worry
about the store, he lost interest in everything. He was keeping odd hours
of opening and closing the store. He had few customers and did not make
them feel welcome. Bernie wandered about the store, dusting a bit and
sweeping the floor. His inventory remained almost the same, as nothing much
was sold. After awhile, he stopped sweeping and dusting.
The grocery part still had canned foods but little else. Bernie was losing
weight and not eating much once his fresh meats and cheeses were depleted.
A deep depression set in. He had lost Marie, his true love, and now his
business seemed lost as well. Why did he want to live?
A few houses down the street lived a family who had also fallen on hard
times. They seldom had three square meals a day. Julie, the youngest girl
was fourteen. Julie worried about Mr. Mears getting so thin. At meal time,
she would take a portion of their meager meal to Bernie. She would stay and
talk to him, dusting and cleaning.
After several months Bernie began to improve. He still had no customers to
speak of, but from what he had left in the store, he would sack a few cans
to take to Julie's family.
In early spring, Julie saw her father planting a garden. This gave her an
idea. She suggested to Bernie to make a garden in the big space beside the
store, which they had once thought would become a parking lot, and sell the
produce really cheap in the store. It would help the neighbors and also
Bernie to have money for new merchandise. They would plant half the garden
space now and half in three weeks giving them fresh produce for a long time.
Julie prayed hard as they placed the seeds in the ground. When the seeds
sprouted, Julie looked anxiously at the rows and there were no empty spots.
They all came up and produced the best crop of vegetables Bernie had ever
seen. Julie gave another prayer of thanks.
You might say those two had the idea for the first Dollar Store as they
reduced the prices until nothing in the store cost more than a dollar with
many items a penny or nickel. They soon became well known in the community
for having the best prices and finest produce in town. They also extended
credit to their neighbors and accepted various items as trade for merchandise.
The two of them worked hard throughout the 1930’s and made a very
successful business. Julie earned a salary. As the economy picked up, so
did sales at the store.
Bernie was now in his 66th year. Julie was doing most of the work while
Bernie clerked a bit and kept books. They had hired a man to plant and tend
the garden.
One afternoon when Bernie closed his ledger, he smiled at Julie.
“We are now knee deep in black ink, Julie. Our hard work has paid off.
Please give me a dollar bill.”
Julie had no idea why he wanted a dollar, but pulled one from her purse and
gave it to him. Bernie smiled.
“Julie, you now own this store. I have given it much thought, and since my
parents have passed and my sister married well, there is no one I want to
leave it to, or who deserves it more. You saved me and the store years ago.
As soon as the paperwork to transfer title to you is complete, I plan on
going out and seeing the rest of this great country.”
Julie thanked him and added that she would always keep the name of Mears
Family Store, and he could come back when he wanted to.
A few days later, Bernie packed and loaded his car and left among many
tears and good luck wishes from the neighbors. Many postcards, letters and
phone calls would be forthcoming over the years. Bernie would meet many
interesting people in his travels, and view wondrous things.
Julie sighed, wiped her hands on the big white butcher apron she wore and
went back to work. She sat down at Bernie's big desk and thought to
herself, who would ever imagine a Jewish man, a part Indian girl and a few
seeds would have survived the worst this country could throw at them and
come out on top?
We truly reap what we sow.
By Clara Wersterfer
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the
LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Jeremiah 1:5-7 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before
thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a
prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot
speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child:
for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command
thee thou shalt speak.”
Psalm 40:1-4 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and
heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the
miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He
hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see
it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh
the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside
to lies.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on
Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in
the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: I REFUSE TO BE DISCOURAGED
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem25.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: SAVED IN CHILDBEARING
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony111.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
