Importance of Savings

​January 21, 2024
 
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
When I was a boy and lived in the thriving village of Titonka, Iowa, I delivered the early morning Des Moines Register newspaper.  Up every morning before six was the routine for the day.  Then, on Saturday, make the route, knock on every door, and collect one dollar for next week’s delivery.  Often, people would pay with silver dollar coins.  How I wish I had kept those coins instead of taking them to the bank.  Just like I wish I had not used Mickey Mantle baseball cards to make a clacking noise on my bicycle spokes.
 
After collecting all those silver dollar coins, every Saturday afternoon, I made a deposit at the bank.  It was there I learned the wisdom of saving.  It was fun to see my savings grow as the teller would hand write my deposit in a little pocket-sized book.
 
Too, I learned other things at the bank.  Important people should be kind to unimportant people.  You see, the bank was owned by one family, the Boykens—Ed, Neal, and Art.  My Dad once told the story of how he asked Ed for a loan.  With only a handshake, Ed loaned my Dad the money he needed for farming.  Ed was the president, Art and Neal were important too, but they doubled as tellers.  They were always kind to me and encouraged me as my savings grew.  Art was even one of my Sunday School teachers.  It was at Titonka Savings Bank that I learned to treat even the little guy with respect and dignity.  You see, I was one of those little people.  I’m often reminded of the line from the musical, Annie.  “Be kind to the people as you go up the ladder, for surely you will meet them again as you fall down the ladder.”
 
Of course, Jesus was the most important person to have ever lived.  He always ministered to the unimportant, the nobodies of the world, you and me included.  He even died for the least of these, you and me.
 
Just a lowly servant,
Pastor Allan
 
 
©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved