Published: December 23, 2008 02:40 pm            

Christmas miracle Seven-year-old's gift of $3.30 turns into $476 overnight

Monticello — This is the time of year when people take a break from their hectic

schedules to focus on the miracle that took place in Bethlehem many

centuries ago, when Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came to earth in the

form of a tiny baby. That tiny baby‹born in a stable and placed in a

manger‹would one day conquer death and give hope to this world.

Since that first "Christmas miracle" thousands of years ago, there have

been countless movies made and stories told of other Christmas miracles.

Although none can ever compare to the miracle of Christ's birth, they remind

us of the love and hope that seems to be more prominent at Christmas time.

Seven-year-old Kinzie Sutton experienced her own Christmas miracle

earlier this week when she watched her $3.30 grow into $476 overnight.

Kinzie's mother described what happened to her gift as "a God thing,"

and there's no better description for what transpired between late Sunday

evening and Monday afternoon.

According to Betty Criswell, Kinzie's grandmother, her granddaughter

wanted to help out a local family who was not going to have Christmas this

year. According to Betty, her daughter is a social worker and one of her

clients didn't have anything for her children for Christmas. However, a

local group had decided to "adopt" the family for Christmas and buy gifts

for the children. Betty said that her daughter was able to give her client

the good news that her children would have Christmas this year.

Kinzie's mother stated that this was a family in need and she thought

they were going to get help from somewhere, but it fell through.

That's when seven-year-old Kinzie comes into the picture.

Late Sunday evening, when her mother learned that they were back to

"square one" and the family wouldn't be having Christmas after all, Kinzie

goes into her bedroom and brings her mom the money that she had saved and

told her, "Mama, take this and buy them something for Christmas."

Kinzie told her mom that it wasn't much but maybe she could get them

something. Her mom told Kinzie that when you give all you have to God He can

multiply it.

So Kinzie gave all she had. To most people it wasn't much, about $3.30,

according to Betty. But to God, it was just enough for Him to reveal His

power to Kinzie's family.

"God took her $3 and blew it sky high," Kinzie's mom said.

Kinzie's older sister and her boyfriend gave what they had. Her brother

gave what he had. People put in the money they had and it was added to

Kinzie's gift. By the end of that first night, Kinzie's $3 had turned into

$130. But God was not finished yet.

He took Kinzie's gift of $3.30 and turned it into $476 overnight.

Kinzie and her mom now had enough money to not only buy gifts for the

children in the family, but to also buy them the makings for a Christmas

dinner. They plan to deliver their goodies on Christmas Eve. The family will

certainly have a blessed Christmas.

Some people may explain it away as the generosity of Kinzie's family and

friends. Her mother, however, is not having any of that. She believes that

God is fully responsible for what happened.

"It's a God thing," she said.

"He's worked the whole thing around to where my hands were tied,"

Kinzie's mom added. She was unable to personally provide this family with

Christmas. The help she thought was coming had fell through. She didn't know

what to do. That's when God revealed His power to her and to her family.

"He is just so awesome," Kinzie's mom said as she talked about what

happened.

It's one thing to read about miracles but something else altogether when

God allows you to be a part of one of His miracles.

"Not only is this family going to have a good Christmas," Kinzie's

mother said, "but He has allowed my daughter and family to see what you can

do when you give all you have."

Some may call it a miracle and others may call it an act of generosity.

Kinzie's mother calls it "a wonderful God story."

        

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