Today’s article is a testimony by the late Sister Patricia (Tish) Palensar from the Pinetop-Lakeside Branch, Arizona. We’ve phrased it in first-person to preserve how she told it in her own words. This is a story she’d repeat from time to time over the years. But—you’ll understand after you read it—it’s the kind of story that forced her to eat some humble pie. Nevertheless, she never shied away from sharing it. 

Sister Josephine (an elderly sister at church) had mentioned that she needed a lamp, and I told her I would bring her one next Sunday. 

I had a shed filled with yard sale stuff, and I would have yard sales throughout the year to make a little extra money.

I went into the yard sale shed and saw a really nice lamp, but I quickly thought that I could make a little money off of that one, and I picked another (lesser) lamp to give to Sister Josephine.  

As I grabbed hold of the lesser lamp, immediately, a huge wind outside threw the shed’s door open, blew the nicer lamp over, and it shattered.

I knew that God was telling me that I should have thought more of my sister and less of the money.

Editor’s Note: Do you have a testimony that you’d like to share with your brothers and sisters? Email it to us at gospelblog@thechurchofjesuschrist.org. We’d love to hear from you.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.