Seven Percent (7%)

The Lord has blessed me and my wife with three gracious children when we expected none. As they have been blessed by the Lord, He also provided them with all their needs. While living in a metropolitan city like Gurugram is an expensive affair; housing, food, and education, not to mention other expenses, are already amounting to a lot. The Lord has been faithfully supplying all our needs thus far, and He will continue to do so.

Two years ago, as my children's fees kept increasing at least by 10% every year, I wrote a request letter to the principal and the authorities concerned seeking sibling concession. After much consideration, they came up with a 7% discount on the third sibling. The base for which I wrote the request was on some other schools' giving 25% discount on the second child and 50% discount on the third child. Well, I had no say beyond the request I made. At least, they considered my request and gave me a 7% discount on the third child, which is better than nothing. 

Two years have elapsed, even during the pandemic they still increased the fees while only online classes were on. Now, in this new academic year, I requested for sibling concession again, which I requested two years ago, hoping that with the aftermath of the pandemic and the change of people in the administration, more discounts could have been considered. Alas, I was replied with the same answer as before stating that it was the school's policy to give whatever discount they have already given me, a 7%. I was a little disappointed and wrote back requesting their reconsideration with the view of the benefits of parents with more children. So far my request for gracious consideration seems to have gone futile. In spite of granting a better concession, the school has hiked the fees by 10% and I had to pay up much more than the year before. Well, what can I do? I have to pay the fees as I have no other choice. This only confirms my need to trust the Lord for all the needs as before and as usual. The Lord is faithful to meet the need. He knows well, and He will take care of it.

As I took the matter before the Lord in prayer, the Lord confirmed to me that it does not matter at all whether my children's fees are hiked or not. For He is the supplier of all the needs. He led me to reconsider how I designate my monthly expenses including the amount of offering I have the burden to offer. Item by item, He led me to consider carefully and showed me the solution to how this school fees hike can be easily met without affecting any other need. I have a burden to offer at least 20% to the Lord from what He blessed me with monthly. He showed me how I can still meet this burden in addition to meeting the 10% fees hike. Besides, He also showed me how an extra supply can be gained by rearranging the way I handle the maintenance fees for the premises we live in. 

After this practical fellowship with the Lord, I was much supplied and encouraged by the Lord's wisdom in taking care of all my financial needs. Though the seven percent (7%) concession may not change at all, and though there is a ten percent (10%) hike in the school fees, the Lord in His wisdom showed me the way to manage all these increased needs. Thank the Lord for His counseling!

Whatever percentage of hike in expenses, the Lord's supply can meet every need. Only trusting the Lord is all that is needed to meet any need. 

Lord, increase my faith!