For the life of me, I do not know why I have kept all the tax returns I have ever filed. I was cleaning out my file cabinet this morning and found them. While I was organizing the tax returns by year, I came across my first one from 1964. I made all of $3,689.95 that year. I made less in the entire year than I make in a month today. That seems impossible! Even though the cost of living was less at that time, I wonder now how did I pay rent, purchase an automobile, buy groceries, and pay for childcare, all on slightly more than $300 a month. My first job guaranteed a minimum of $50 earnings a week. Wow, how time has changed!
I have a great accountant that I have used for the past 35 years. I hope his health hangs on, and he does not pass away before me. All I have to do is organize the totals of my yearly expenses and income. My sister and I make a 10 a.m. appointment every March and go together. It takes him about 45 minutes to an hour to complete each of our tax returns. We pay him for his service, he files electronically, and within thirty days, we receive our refunds. It's like receiving a little bonus every April instead of dreading to pay the government more in taxes. When we began drawing our Social Security, he advised us to have a small percentage withheld for federal taxes, which we did. We get all that back because we both have a home-based business and are permitted to file with deductions.
I understand that due to the Coronavirus, our government has changed the tax filing deadline to Wednesday, July 15, 2020. That's probably the first time that has happened since its inception. And I'm sure for those who have "nonessential" jobs, this time of having to stay home is going to put a big dent in their income. It is not going to be easy to overcome that loss of revenue, but we are a faith-based nation, and the Lord will not let us down. He will make a way when there seems to be no way. Once when I was trying to make sense of my bank statements, Holy Spirit told me He was in charge of all the numbers. Somehow, I was paying out more than I was taking in. However, the balance in my account not only covered what I paid out but also increased, just as Jesus multiplied the fishes and loaves to feed the vast multitude and had some leftover. So we can trust that He will make a way because He said that He would never leave us or forsake us!
Since I became a Christian, I have learned one valuable lesson that has to do with the spiritual laws God put into motion from the beginning of time. That is tithing. One cannot out give the Lord. I know when finances get tight; our first knee-jerk response is to quit giving. However, I have found that it is vital for us to continue giving. You may not be able to give your full 10%, but you can still give something. As for myself, I ask the Lord where, and how much He wants me to give, then I wait for His nudge. That is just one of the ways God will provide for us to get through to the other side of this Coronavirus pandemic!
Of course, if you itemize on your tax return, you know you can deduct your charitable giving on your taxes. If you are set up to receive your tax refund through direct deposit, it will expedite receiving the Stimulus check the government is about ready to release. Chin up! This, too, shall pass.
