Can God Bless Even Through The IRS?

Absolutely!

When you think of the Internal Revenue Service you most likely don't think happy thoughts of them. Along with receipt of my refund check (they always have trouble with the automatic deposit program) came a postcard stub saying my refund was more than what I had figured out on my tax forms. But, do not cash this check until you receive a letter from us explaining why this was so and if you disagree with the change please call us.. At first my instinct was: okay more is better than less. Then, with my curiousity getting the best of me, I went ahead and double checked my figures. I still came up with my original refund amount. Then I began to ponder all kinds of different thoughts including: what if I cash this and then later they come back and haunt me with the old "We made a mistake and you owe us". I am one of those people who just needs to know why!

This all reminded me of one of my favorite Honeymooners episodes called The Worry Wart.

(side bar here: I consider this 1953 sketch comedy show the greatest spontaneous acting ever done) In this particular episode, instead of receiving his $42 refund check Ralph Kramden gets a letter requesting him to report to the Internal Revenue Office tomorrow. Now Ralph was counting on that money to take a vacation camping with his wife Alice, so naturally he becomes upset. Ralph is one to always jump to conclusions so his mind starts wondering in all different directions. He stays awake all night trying to figure out not only what he did wrong, but what does the IRS want with him and will he be sent to Levenworth. All this loud commotion awakens his neighbor Norton who comes in to calm Ralph down and help him figure where he might have went wrong with his taxes.

Norton goes through a checklist with Ralph:

"Did you report your interest from bank account? Yes, $2.25"

"Did you receive any bonuses?"

"My boss was cheap this year and gave us a skinny chicken, worth about $2.

"How about gambling winnings?"

"Well..I won $25 playing pool that one time.

Then there was that raffle at the pizza joint and I won a horse with a clock in his stomach.

I won $5 from the 3 legged race at the Raccoon Lodge picnic.

Oh, I know what it could be! I won $85 playing poker. You don't suppose they could be investigating me for that, do ya'?"

Ralph's state of panic gets even worse as he spends all night contemplating what they're going to do to him. The next morning Ralph goes into the Internal Revenue Office and discovers that the only thing he did wrong was fail to sign his tax return. He worried himself over nothing!

Needless to say, my predicament was the opposite of Ralph's, and boy am I glad. I received the IRS letter of explanation a couple of days ago. Their reasoning for the different amount was this:

Based on information provided on your return we have determined you are eligible to claim the Making Work Pay and Government Retiree Credit on line 8 of your return and have computed the credit for you.

I had no idea this credit existed and I won't disagree with their decision and so I will gladly accept the over $400 more in refund given to me.

God always finds ways of blessing us not just through the difficult times, but even through those three dirty initials IRS.

This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time and its leaf never dries up. Whatever he does will work out well for him. (Psalm 1:3)