Giving Anonymously
Illustration
Stories
“The charter group out of Florida isn’t available to take us either.” Joanne hung up the phone. “That is six different companies we’ve tried and none of them can transport us to the island and pick us up when we’re finished.”
“What are we going to do?” Tammy asked. “We don’t have enough time to get there by boat even if we could hire one.”
“Can we reschedule the clinic?”
Tammy shook her head. “The doctors aren’t available after next week. Dr. John is off to a conference and Dr. Paula has to go back to her own patients.”
“This is so frustrating! We have the doctors, the medicine, all ready to go and the clinic arranged on the island.” Joanne sighed. “Why is everything working against us? These children need this help and the church raised the money we need to cover the expenses.”
“Al said he might have a lead for us.” Tammy’s phone chimed. She looked down with the screen. “Someone heard that we might need help and reached out to him. Do you want him to follow up?”
“Yes! Absolutely.” Joanne crossed her fingers. “This could be our last hope to help these kids.”
Tammy’s fingers flew on the screen. Her phone chimed again. “Al says he’ll know in a couple of minutes.”
The next few minutes went crawled past and finally her phone chimed once more. Tammy’s face burst in a grin. “The mystery person can do it and can be here within the hour.”
“Wonderful! This is an answer to our prayers.” Joanne clapped with joy. Her face fell as she looked at Tammy. “What’s the matter?”
“Al says the pilot has a condition taking us over to the island but it has nothing to do with money.”
Joanne shrugged. “Tell him we’ll agree to anything as long as the pilot is here within the hour. Give him the information and get the staff moving the stuff out to the runway. We’re ready to roll!”
The next hour flew past as they moved their gear to the hanger where the small plane would land and the doctors checked and rechecked the supplies. They had just finished up when the plane taxied into place.
“I wonder what the condition the pilot has?” Tammy asked.
“No idea.” Joanne watched the plane come to a halt and the pilot get out of the cockpit. “I’m just happy to see him.
“Lots of space in the back for your equipment,” the pilot said with his sunglasses reflecting the sun and his cap pulled down. “Al gave me the coordinates for the landing strip and I’ve got enough fuel to get there and back. He said you were finished in two days?”
“We are.” Joanne nodded. “Thanks. You know this medial mission is going to make a great deal of difference to some needy kids. We have money the church raised to pay for your fuel costs and your time...”
The pilot waved her off. “I need to log so many hours to keep my license and I can’t think of anything better than making a difference while I do it. I’ve filed the flight path and we’re ready to go as soon as you get everyone and everything loaded.”
“Thanks, Mr?..”
“Harry.” The pilot took off his sunglasses and Joanne stared at him.
“You’re-”
“— I’m Harry and nothing more for this flight.” Harry smiled at her. “Did Al mention that I have a condition for doing all of this?”
Joanne nodded.
“I’d like you to keep my name out of it,” Harry said. “This medical mission is about your church and the doctors and what they are doing to help the kids. I don’t want any word about me being your pilot. I’m a firm believer in not trumpeting the help I’m able to give because I’ve been blessed in life. So no pictures of me in your publicity stuff and no mention that I was your pilot.”
“Okay.” Joanne said slowly. “Can I ask one favor?”
“Sure.”
“Would you consider coming in and talking to the kids after the doctors are finished?”
“This isn’t about me,” Harry said. “This is about the kids.”
“I know, which is why I ask. I know some of them have seen your movies because, well, you’ve made so many of them. I think a visit from you might make their day.”
“If you think it would make their day they I suppose I could pop in and say hello.” Harry rubbed his chin. “Maybe when I pick you up in two days?”
Joanne shook his hand. “Thank you so very much.”
Harry smiled and went to help pack the gear in the plane.
Joanne offered up a silent prayer thanking God for making the medical mission happen and for Harry whose help was making it all possible. She knew he didn’t want any recognition but she believed that God would richly reward him for his generosity.
*****************************************
StoryShare, February 22, 2023 issue.
Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
“What are we going to do?” Tammy asked. “We don’t have enough time to get there by boat even if we could hire one.”
“Can we reschedule the clinic?”
Tammy shook her head. “The doctors aren’t available after next week. Dr. John is off to a conference and Dr. Paula has to go back to her own patients.”
“This is so frustrating! We have the doctors, the medicine, all ready to go and the clinic arranged on the island.” Joanne sighed. “Why is everything working against us? These children need this help and the church raised the money we need to cover the expenses.”
“Al said he might have a lead for us.” Tammy’s phone chimed. She looked down with the screen. “Someone heard that we might need help and reached out to him. Do you want him to follow up?”
“Yes! Absolutely.” Joanne crossed her fingers. “This could be our last hope to help these kids.”
Tammy’s fingers flew on the screen. Her phone chimed again. “Al says he’ll know in a couple of minutes.”
The next few minutes went crawled past and finally her phone chimed once more. Tammy’s face burst in a grin. “The mystery person can do it and can be here within the hour.”
“Wonderful! This is an answer to our prayers.” Joanne clapped with joy. Her face fell as she looked at Tammy. “What’s the matter?”
“Al says the pilot has a condition taking us over to the island but it has nothing to do with money.”
Joanne shrugged. “Tell him we’ll agree to anything as long as the pilot is here within the hour. Give him the information and get the staff moving the stuff out to the runway. We’re ready to roll!”
The next hour flew past as they moved their gear to the hanger where the small plane would land and the doctors checked and rechecked the supplies. They had just finished up when the plane taxied into place.
“I wonder what the condition the pilot has?” Tammy asked.
“No idea.” Joanne watched the plane come to a halt and the pilot get out of the cockpit. “I’m just happy to see him.
“Lots of space in the back for your equipment,” the pilot said with his sunglasses reflecting the sun and his cap pulled down. “Al gave me the coordinates for the landing strip and I’ve got enough fuel to get there and back. He said you were finished in two days?”
“We are.” Joanne nodded. “Thanks. You know this medial mission is going to make a great deal of difference to some needy kids. We have money the church raised to pay for your fuel costs and your time...”
The pilot waved her off. “I need to log so many hours to keep my license and I can’t think of anything better than making a difference while I do it. I’ve filed the flight path and we’re ready to go as soon as you get everyone and everything loaded.”
“Thanks, Mr?..”
“Harry.” The pilot took off his sunglasses and Joanne stared at him.
“You’re-”
“— I’m Harry and nothing more for this flight.” Harry smiled at her. “Did Al mention that I have a condition for doing all of this?”
Joanne nodded.
“I’d like you to keep my name out of it,” Harry said. “This medical mission is about your church and the doctors and what they are doing to help the kids. I don’t want any word about me being your pilot. I’m a firm believer in not trumpeting the help I’m able to give because I’ve been blessed in life. So no pictures of me in your publicity stuff and no mention that I was your pilot.”
“Okay.” Joanne said slowly. “Can I ask one favor?”
“Sure.”
“Would you consider coming in and talking to the kids after the doctors are finished?”
“This isn’t about me,” Harry said. “This is about the kids.”
“I know, which is why I ask. I know some of them have seen your movies because, well, you’ve made so many of them. I think a visit from you might make their day.”
“If you think it would make their day they I suppose I could pop in and say hello.” Harry rubbed his chin. “Maybe when I pick you up in two days?”
Joanne shook his hand. “Thank you so very much.”
Harry smiled and went to help pack the gear in the plane.
Joanne offered up a silent prayer thanking God for making the medical mission happen and for Harry whose help was making it all possible. She knew he didn’t want any recognition but she believed that God would richly reward him for his generosity.
*****************************************
StoryShare, February 22, 2023 issue.
Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
