The Lost $100 Bill

In the rather small town of Gilmer, Texas, there is an annual “Yamboree.” There are a lot of sweet potatoes (yams) grown around there, and they celebrate it with all kinds of activities. One of those is selling the High School’s class work in wood and metal.  In the silent action I found a 10 foot metal gate witch attracted my attention and my bride said I could bid on it. Minimum bid was $300 dollars – and I offered $350. I never expected to win, but later in the day, after I was back on the Farm, there was a call that I had won the gate and I could come pick it up. We scrounged around in our children’s inheritance money and found the $300 dollars (I had $50 from my monthly allowance my bride gives me), and we returned to the Yamboree for the prize.

When the young lady was ready for me to pay, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the $250 which was there. Well, I begin to search other pockets, looked on the ground (later searched around the barn I live in, and the surrounding turf), but there was no other $100 bill. I was embarrassed, and asked the FFA student to give me a moment. As I stepped away from the table where she sat, a man approached me (30-35 years of age I would guess), and said, “looks like you are a little short.” Shocked, I said, “well yes, I don’t know what happened. I had the money but it is gone.” “How much, he asked?” I told him I was missing a hundred dollars. He smiled, reached into his. pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. Finding a hundred dollar bill, he reached to hand it to me and said, “here, just what you need.” I immediately replied, “no, I can’t take that. Why would you offer a hundred dollar bill to me, someone you don’t know? “I can afford it he said.” The bill hung in the air on his fingers. . ., his eyes eyes were clear and I knew something was up, and I reached out and took it. I introduced myself, assured him that I just needed his address and I would return the money to him immediately by mail, or any other means he liked. “No,” he said. “Just take it and forget it. You know how this works. You know what is happening here,” and he walked away.

I do know! I understand! I got it! For the moment I had let it slip my mind. Luke 6:38