Treasure in an Egg, with reader comments

Liz had separated from her husband. She was emotionally devastated, and the reality of keeping her two preschool daughters fed and cared for had all but shattered her spirit. She believed in God, but where was He? She felt so alone… Reluctantly, she decided to file for financial aid, until she could find a job.

However, the paperwork would take some time, and a few days later, Liz realized that she had no money, and no food in the cupboards. She checked her purse and pockets just in case, but there was no money anywhere, no way to buy even a small bag of groceries. “I sent the girls next door because I knew my nice neighbor would feed them,” she recalls. “Then I sat on the couch and cried.” God, please, just a little help … just enough to buy some groceries for the next week… As Liz wept, five-year-old Crystal came back into the apartment. “Mommy, what’s the matter?” she asked.

Liz didn’t want Crystal to see her crying. “Nothing, honey. Why don’t you go outside and do something?”

“Like what?” Crystal persisted.

“Oh…” Liz wiped her eyes. “Why don’t you take out the garbage? That would be a big help.”

“Okay!” Crystal took the garbage bag and headed out the door and down to the apartment complex dumpsters. A moment later, she was back. “Mommy, can I keep this plastic egg that I found in the dump? I can put my Barbie doll clothes in it.”

“No, honey,” Liz murmured absently. “You’re not supposed to bring things in from the garbage. It might be dirty…”

“It’s not, Mommy. Please? I’ll keep the egg and you can keep the money in it.”

Liz’s heart seemed to stop. “What money?”

“Here,” Crystal said, and she pulled four twenty dollar bills out of the egg. Liz stared at the bills. The dumpsters were huge—there was no possibly way she could find the owner of those bills. Did God mean them for her? Hadn’t she asked? “I will never leave you nor forsake you…” The comforting words from the Bible washed over her, and she understood.

“The money bought us groceries until my aid came through,” Liz says. “I found a job, and things are much better today, but I’ve never forgotten that moment, and the reassurance it brought me.” It wasn’t so much the money itself, she says, but the certainty that God was near and caring for her, answering her prayer in His own way, in His own time. “Nothing is impossible with Him.”
<~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~>
Hello, Friends. This past weekend I posted a story about a woman who received some unexpected and much-needed money. I asked you if you thought she should have kept the money. Your answers were so interesting that I thought you would enjoy seeing them. I ended up using first names only, because it was a little easier. See what you think.

—I believe she should have kept it, it was a gift from God. Since she had no idea who it belonged to, I see no reason why she should not have used it for food. Awesome story!! —Judy

—I don’t think there was anything wrong with her keeping the money. I do believe it was an answer to prayer. As it says in the story, there was no possibility she could find the owner of those bills. I feel it was God’s will that the money would go to her. —Rosanna

–Why shouldn’t she keep the money???!!!! How was she going to find the original owner? I am sure no one knew the serial numbers and that was all the id on the money….as for the egg….isn’t the egg at Easter a sign of rebirth and good things to come????? —Shirley

—HI Joan, I am reacting to your mention of several people saying Liz should have not kept the money. What is wrong with such people? Did they think God should have included a handwritten note to remove all doubt where it came from? Don’t they know He likes to work in ways that favor humble circumstances? Including a container–the egg–that could prove useful for the little girl is such a neat, thoughtful touch, too.

I looked through my joke collection, without success, for the story of the man praying for help as flood waters closed in on his house. Several rescue boats came by, but he continued to decline their help and climb higher to the porch roof and eventually the peak of the house roof presumably expecting his house to be saved. He drowned and stood before God, asking why his prayers weren’t answered. God said He had sent several rescue boats. Why hadn’t he accepted them?

I did find this other joke about praying to God.
———————

A man is praying, and he asks God, “God, how much is a million years to You?”
And the voice of God responds, “A second.”
“And how much is a million dollars to You?”
“A penny.”
“Can I have a million dollars?”
“In just a second.”
———————
We just have to keep on trying to think like God. Thanks again for another enjoyable story. Be well and keep smiling. —Jack

—This reminds me of a story I read (probably on the Internet) of a man who prayed asking God for help and whenever it came , he turned it down and finally died and went to heaven. He told God of his prayers for help and God said, “Every time I sent you help, you turned it down. What was I supposed to do?” (something to that effect) Anyway, this story reminds me of that. I think that mother had every reason to think that the money was “meant” for her to keep. My opinion!
—Nancee

—THERE ARE NO CONCOINDENCES….THE MONEY WAS FOR HER AS A DIRECT ANSWER TO PRAYER. —Teri

—Why shouldn’t she keep the money? God blessed her with it, and beings there was no way to find the owner, she kept it and her faith in our Lord that He would provide —Barbara

–I read the story about Liz and her daughters and their despair. I feel that God was answering her prayers in sending her money to help her until she was able to get back on her feet again. Ask and ye shall receive. It works and I know that first hand. Praise God!! –Phyllis

–In reference to you story this week and the money Liz’s daughter found. That is a tough one to answer.
Personally I think she did what she had to do. If she had money and found it and kept it I would disagree but the poor woman was desperate. Guess there is all kinds of ways to look at it but I believe God is a forgivikg and loving God and if it was wrong He certainly forgave her. For whatever that is worth
—Another Phyllis

—I’m glad that Liz kept the money – she had hungry children and mothers will do anything within reason to feed their children. I believe that God made sure the money was there, put by someone, yes, but it was meant for Liz and her family. ‘God works in mysterious ways’.

—I feel we are not permitted to stand in judgment. Australia was colonized by people who had broken the law, some were mothers who stole to feed their children. I am in New Zealand and I won’t judge these wonderful women. God bless Liz and her family —Catherine

—You said you were interested in responses from people as to whether or not Liz should have kept the money her daughter found. I’m not sure if she lived in a large or small apartment complex, but it certainly seems that trying to find the owner of $100.00 that was kept in a plastic egg would be a difficult task. If the money had been found with identification of some sort then of course Liz should have looked for the owner. Since I don’t know any more facts that what were presented in your story, I would say Liz should have kept the money, and then “pay it forward” someday for someone else in need. –Irene
—You asked for a response to the story about Liz and whether we thought she should have kept the money that her daughter found in the egg in the dumpster. I have mixed feelings about it, but I think that the largest part of me wants to say that YES she most surely should have kept it. She was in dire straits, had no where to turn, and had just asked God to provide. In that respect, it was a God send. She may have been able to post it on a bulletin board in her apartment complex, but anyone could say that they had lost the money, and it might not have really been theirs at all. However, the rightful owner might have come forward and described exactly how much and where it was (an egg), and they might have really needed the money also… But, God works in mysterious ways, so as I said earlier, the largest part of me wants to say this was God’s way of providing for her and her family when she really needed it.
I too, was separated from my husband, and had three small children to feed (this was many years ago). I didn’t know what I was going to do next. I sat at my kitchen table and earnestly prayed for God’s guidance. About that time, the mailman came and left something in my mailbox. I went up to collect the mail, and there was an envelope with no return address, but it was addressed to me. I opened it, and there was a $100.00 check from a neighboring church. How they knew about my plight I’ll never know, but I dropped to my knees and thanked the Lord for His provision. I went to the church to thank them personally. I didn’t know anyone there, and I still to this day don’t know how they knew I was in need. God’s angels are always with us. I know mine was watching out for me then and still is today.
I enjoy reading your Story of the Week. It always makes me feel!!! I think that’s the problem with so many people today. They have forgotten to “feel” in touch with the rest of the world. Thank you for caring and sharing. God bless you. I hope you have a fantastic day. —Mary
—Yes I think she should have kept it, it was an answer to a prayer. Love ya. —Betty

—Unless someone came around to each apartment asking if anyone found an egg with money in it, she is free to keep it. —Jerry

—God answered her heartfelt prayer – she was meant to have the money! It would be nice, if once she is back on her feet, she could go back to where she lived (if she’s since moved) and comment about her daughter finding an egg in the dumpster.

See what happens, without mention of the money at all. If someone comments about yeah… & I had my Xmas money in it or someone lost their ‘fun’ money – she could always pay it back… if not, pay it forward, she’ll run across someone in dire straits and give them money with the proviso that they pay it forward (if they insist on returning it once they get on their feet again.) —JMJ&T

—I feel that Liz did well to keep the money. After all she did not go to the casino with it, nor did she splurge on a new wardrobe, or go out to the movies etc etc….she used it to feed herself and her two darling daughters.
God answered her prayers and she listened, nothing wrong with that.
—Cecelia

I have mixed feelings about the money in the egg – yes, it was desperately needed but by the same token the egg may have been thrown out in error or the owner didn’t know the egg had money it.
In all reality Liz should have questioned folks in the apartment complex about anyone throwing out plastic eggs (without mentioning any money). There is the possibility that Liz might have been rewarded if the owner hadbeen found. And then, there is the possibility that no one would haveclaimed it.
Prayers are answered in many ways and sometimes in ways we least expect. In any event, I, personally, wouldn’t have found fault with Liz for keeping the money. —Sue

–How about, nothing is black and white in life esp when it comes to survival for a woman and her children. Perhaps it would be nice if there was a better way for her to not have been put in that position.
In any event, I have no issue that she did that. Perhaps what she could do is pay it forward. She can’t repay where it came from, but she could make a donation forward to pay it back to a women’s shelter or something like that, so someone in her position in the future has help from “somewhere beyond.”
—Debra

—On keeping the money…
My first instinct is that she should not have kept it, but on second thought…
How practically would she find the owner? She had no money to run an ad in the paper and she couldn’t describe it because there would be 100 people saying it was theirs. If she put it back at the dumpster, it is unlikely the owner would have found it; rather someone else just like this little girl would have, or it would have ended up in the landfill. Either someone accidentally threw it out forgetting it had been a one-time “stash,” or God planted a brightly colored (apparently big) egg that would attract a child and let the events fall into place at the right time by having the daughter take out the garbage when she did. When you really examine it; I think keeping the money was OK, and might have been God’s divine wish.

—oh my God that story was so touching it should be told in all masses and every were else so every one can see how God our father wants to provide for us, xxxxx —Betty

–Believe God had intended for the money to be hers. If someone had come forward asking if anyone found $ 80 and Liz didn’t own up, then I think it would be wrong. –Dave

–I think the money in the egg was meant for her to find and use. Especially since there was no way to trace it. Also, what are the chances that an egg with money in it would be found in a dumpster, by her daughter??

—I don’t think there was anything wrong with her keeping the money. I do believe it was an answer to prayer. As it says in the story, there was no possibility she could find the owner of those bills. I feel it was God’s will that the money would go to her. —Rosanna

—I think she should have kept the money. God does help in mysterious ways. —Dawn

—Why of course God meant for her and her children to have that money. He even used a little angel to deliver it! —Gina
—Should Liz have kept the money?
1. Not my place to judge her actions!
2. She should have gotten on her knee’s and asked Heavenly Father if that was his gift to her, or, could he direct her to the person/family whose money it was.
That answer is/was the right thing to do.
Thanks for all you do. —Jim

–To answer the question as to weather or not Liz should have kept the money, I think that she could have found a way to put out a notice that money was found and waited for a week or two for someone to claim it. If at the end of that time no one claimed it that it would have been alright for her to keep it. But I do understand her desperation and don’t fault her for keeping it. —Anne

—I think that God works in mysterious ways, and that the egg was sent there for a reason. Too coincidental for it not to ba an act of God. —cjh

—We can have all the mixed emotions we want, we were not in this Mother’s place at that particular time in her life unless she begged. God does not want His children to do so as it says in my Bible.
The most important thing in this story and I believe this lady, is that she immediately felt that God had provided for her and family, God answered her cries to Him. Big one, she had peace. When all of these things add up, her Father above was taking care of His Child. –Linda

—$80 – I believe that the money was meant for her. Not only that, to whom would she return it? The dumpster? We once sent clothing to a second hand store only to realize later that money was in the pocket of a shirt – we called on the off chance that the shirt was still at the store. No such luck. I figured that the money (I believe around $600) was meant for somebody that needed it more than we did.

I have been the one to misplace & not recover such things or the fortunate one to pick up such items it circles back to us. She did not steal or come to this money by any devious means, it just happened to be there and when she so desperately needed it to get her over the hump. I have absolutely no problems with her keeping the money!

Don’t repay kindness (or fortune in this case) pass it on.
—Rita

—Absolutely she should have kept the money; I believe it was meant for her from above. There was no way for her to find out who it belonged to anyway. Therefore, she had a need; and it was an answer to prayer. If a person finds money and is not in need and cannot find the owner, I believe the person should share with those in need, be it someone they know or a charity. And I’m thinking that the subject of your story will pay it forward when her circumstances allow.

Bless you and your stories! —Kathleen

God was answering her cry for help in His way and in His time. That egg with money in it wasn’t “accidentally” left where her daughter would find it. God doesn’t do accidents. That egg not only provided groceries for Liz and her family but it also brought joy to a little girl who needed joy at that moment. Those that disagree that Liz shouldn’t have kept the money obviously don’t place their full faith in God. —Jennifer

—She was right to keep the money; it was God’s gift. She couldn’t have known who it originally belonged to. But once she was able to support herself, she should have given that amount to the poor.
—Fr Joseph

—I say she was right to keep the money, it was $80, how could you find the real person who lost $80,everyone would claim it, besides we who believe in angelic intervention know that God sent it, others should quite frankly get over themselves for being so self righteous. Besides, money that is not rightfully yours will not bring you good luck, and as the story unfolds, good times came afterwards. –Ann

—I think the question should be “Should Liz have tried to find the owner of the money?” Personally, I feel the answer to either question would be “No.”

When my kids were younger, money was tight. We were headed to my parents’ for a weekend visit and I happened to find a balled up bill (couldn’t tell the denomination) on the floor of a convenience store when I stopped to buy some gas. I picked it up and stuck it in my pocket. In my car, I unrolled the ball and discovered it was a $10.00 bill. I struggled with the same question…should I return it to the store manager or was it meant for me? I prayed about the situation and asked God to give me peace if I was to keep it. If so, I would be sure to tithe it in church on Sunday. If it wasn’t meant for me, I’d put the whole $10.00 in the offering plate. God gave me peace.

On the return trip home Sunday evening, my car sputtered and died on a dark four-lane highway. I managed to get to the side of the road and flicked my lights for some time trying to get someone to stop and help. Finally, a man stopped and checked under the hood. He said the car needed some oil and he offered to go get it for me. I didn’t know him from Adam and debated if I should give him the only money I had on me–the $10.00 bill. Was this the reason I happened to find the money?

Since then, I have been mindful to “pay it forward” and help others in need when I am blessed to be able to do so. God is good all the time; all the time God is good!!

—It sounds like the money was sent to her to help her. If she turned it into the police, they might have kept it for months and her children would still be hungry. —Janet

Another lovely story. Thank you for writing and sharing it! Joan, those who question whether she should have tried to find the owner seem to me to be brushing aside God’s gracious gift to this poor woman.
When a blessing arrives, do we gratefully accept it — or doubt it, question it, and un-do it?
What’s more, I sense that this woman has more than returned this gift by her acts of kindness.
Just my 2 cents —Martha

— Of course, she should have kept the money. I can’t imagine anyone would suggest otherwise when this woman was in such dire straits. She had no way of knowing to whom the egg belonged; and for all we know, it was placed by an angel answering this woman’s prayers. Only God knew the daughter would be going to the dumpster at the precise time that she did. Thanks. —Pam

Well, Joan….
Seems to put a new slant on the age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Seems to me that the egg was in fact a gift from God so that Liz could go out and buy the chicken! Perhaps 10 % for the basket at church, or the poor box, might have been appropriate, considering…
—Ed

—Yes, Liz should have kept the money and be thankful that God was watching over her. To me this was a clear sign that he was aware of her needs. –Carolyn

All of the replies were God-given! He answers prayer when we are really in need of His help. Whoever lost the money probably would never have retrieved it so God put it to use where needed and just in the right time, a boon to the mother AND the little girl. I am sure she also learned of God’s loving care for them.
His blessings always express His love and concern for our real and immediate needs, especially when things look hopeless. Elizabeth

How can she give the money to charity? She IS the charity! She should keep the egg too; it’s a great conversational piece. –Jerry

Related Posts:

• Story of the Week, One More Butterfly, July 17, 2010

If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Based on a theme by WP Remix. Design & Promotion by The Creative Concept. | Copyright 2002-2009. Joan Wester Anderson. All rights reserved

• Home
• Believe!
• About the Author
• What Are Angels?
• Books
• Links
• Contact
• Upcoming Events