By Beckie Dragon

When I think of cause and effect, the first thing that comes to mind is the idea that what you put out will come back to you. It reminds me of a boomerang. When you throw it out, it returns from the opposite direction and the same distance. The scriptures express it this way: That which ye sow, so shall ye also reap.

Since we’re referencing a scripture, I’d like to connect cause and effect to the spiritual law of tithing. We believe that when we give back to the Lord by paying our tithes, we can expect to receive blessings. I remember one time when I was cooking at the stove. I had pulled a glass casserole dish out of the cupboard and placed it on the stove to prepare for what I was stirring, unaware that the burner was still on low where I set the dish. Suddenly, the casserole dish made a loud pop and exploded! I screamed—it scared me so badly! My son-in-law rushed in to see what had happened, and there was glass scattered all across the room—everywhere! It had even burned holes in the linoleum floor behind me!

The miracle? Not a single scratch or burn on me. Not one. It was as if it didn’t touch me at all! As I shared this testimony, I received a powerful witness that this was a direct result of paying my tithing. I love this example of cause and effect because my action—paying tithing—was the cause. But the Lord determines the how, when, and what of the effect.

Deepak Chopra also refers to this as the law of Karma. One thing he says is, "You must become consciously aware that your future is generated by the choices you are making in every moment of your life." We know that every choice we make brings consequences, and I've heard it said, "When you pick up one end of a stick, you also pick up the other." A simple example would be if you choose not to wear a coat when it's 30°F outside—the natural consequence is you’ll be very cold.

If we go through life unaware of the choices we're making, then we are letting our subconscious drive us. But we can change the outcome by changing our choices.

Another story that perfectly illustrates the law of cause and effect happened with my son. Three years ago, he went through a difficult divorce and was in a desperate time. He stayed with us to get back on his feet. At one point, he needed extra money for an important test, but he felt so discouraged, unable to see how he could make it happen. I came up with a plan to make "taco braids" to sell and earn the money. We worked together and made it happen. We earned the money, and of course, I taught him the principle of paying tithing on the money we earned.

Fast forward a bit. When I needed money for my own goal—my Phase 2 plan to provide a great Christmas party for the family—I decided to make “taco braids” again. I went to the store to buy the ingredients, but I didn’t have enough money. I came home discouraged, in tears. When my son found out, he came to me and said, "Mom, you helped me when I needed it—now let me help you!" He helped me buy some of the ingredients I needed to get started. What I put out did indeed come back to me!

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