I forgot to redeem a pledge to God and I suffered for it

“From time, I always make it a point to give something back to God through donations to my church. Also, if friends invite me to their church for a fund raising function, I would try to make donations too. Usually, though, I restrict my donations to what I can afford immediately either in cash or cheque as I worry about being unable to redeem pledges on time, or even forgetting pledges made.

Some years ago, a friend invited me to a church function. Unexpectedly (though I probably should have expected it, knowing our churches), they made donation requests and even though I didn’t have much cash, or my cheque book, I still made a pledge for a certain sum of money. The amount was small so I knew I would be able to redeem it once I got hold of my cheque book. I collected a pledge paper from the church, promising to redeem it once I got home. Unfortunately, I forgot until something happened which reminded me of it.

Long after this, my good friend, a priest, called me. He asked if I’d been having unusual challenges in my life and I was surprised because I was having some very tough times. He then asked if I’d made a pledge to God that I’d not fulfilled. Immediately, I shook my head; I never fail to redeem pledges whether to God or man so it was out of the question. He asked me to think harder for that was the message he was getting about my situation. I was puzzled and for about two weeks after his call, his words kept me awake at night.

One day, I got up and began searching through my stuff, emptying drawers and bags. If there was anything, the evidence would be there because I only threw away papers of concluded transactions. At the back of one of my drawers, I picked up a scrunched sheet of paper and when I opened it, it was the pledge paper for my friend’s church dated almost two years before. I was shocked and almost at once, I remembered the time when I made the pledge. I'd completely forgotten. Immediately, I sent a cheque to the church with my pledge paper attached – I’m sure they were surprised to receive it. Once I did this, it was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Shortly after I redeemed the pledge, things began to turn around for me positively. Till today, I believe it was the pledge I failed to redeem that brought some bad luck to me because once I fulfilled the promise I made to God, my life changed for the better."