Mihai’s grandmother passed away following a heated argument between them, leaving him solely with a Bible and a note. He tossed the book into his closet, never bothering to look again. Years later, desperate to help his ailing mother, Mihai stumbled upon that Bible, only to uncover a shocking secret hidden within.

“Oh Lord…,” Mihai sighed, staring at his mother’s latest medical bill before slamming his laptop shut. He couldn’t fathom how expensive healthcare was, even with insurance. Between the two of them, they didn’t have many savings, and Mihai found himself revisiting bitter thoughts about his grandmother, Ana.

They had quarreled six years back because Ana had wanted him to attend church on a specific day. Preoccupied and with plans already with friends, he was 18 and had nothing but fun on his mind.

When she insisted, and he refused, the conversation quickly escalated into an argument. That was the last time they talked, and Ana passed away soon after.

Upon reading her will, Mihai was stunned to discover she had left everything to the church, including her grand house. Up until the argument, they shared a wonderful relationship, especially after his father’s passing. Her money and home would have been incredibly helpful to Mihai, offering relief from rent.

Instead, all he received was a Bible and a note saying, “Open it when times are tough.”

It was a shocking turn. Mihai couldn’t believe Ana would be so unforgiving. Their disagreement about attending church seemed trivial to him, yet the old woman decided to teach him a lesson.

Six years later, money was once again on his mind. Sure, they never had any rightful claim to it. After all, it was her money. But that inheritance could have assisted his mother, Elena, a great deal.

Mihai had exhausted all his savings, started a crowdfunding campaign, and even applied for a loan, only to get rejected due to lack of collateral. Unsure of what to do next, he couldn’t shake the thought of that Bible. For whatever reason, it lingered in his mind.

Well, these times sure are hard. Maybe I should open it and read a few passages, he thought, rising from his desk and heading for the closet. Years ago, he had thrown the Bible into a corner and had made no effort to retrieve it since. But there it was, and opening its first page, he found the note left with the book.

Reading the note aloud, Mihai whispered, “Open it when times are tough… You’re insane, Grandma. I loved you, but you were so cruel.”

Suddenly, he noticed something peculiar. The pages seemed separated by more than just a bookmark. Did she leave more notes for me to read? he wondered, flipping the page.

His eyes widened. Tucked within were two $100 bills! Flipping another page revealed even more bills, and another, and another! Hidden within the Bible’s pages were thousands of dollars! Gathering them, he spread them across his bed and began to sob.

“Oh God, Grandma! Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you say anything before you left us? I’m sorry I held that grudge for so long,” he declared towards the sky, memories of their times flooding his mind.

As a child, he and Ana attended church regularly, even joining the choir at one point. But like most teenagers, he lost interest and stopped attending. Ana had continued to press, talking incessantly about God and Jesus, which he grew to resent. But now, he cherished those memories.

Reflecting on that heated argument, Mihai regretted every moment of bitterness he harbored. She had acted wisely. She taught him a tough lesson he needed to learn. Despite the harshness of her methods, he felt grateful. “Crazy old lady,” he murmured, chuckling through his tears.

The found money was more than enough to cover his mother’s medical treatments. He rushed to the hospital, sharing the unbelievable story with Elena, who couldn’t help but chuckle at Ana’s antics.

“That sounds just like Ana. She was strange in many ways but wise, too. How odd we never noticed anything before,” Elena laughed, smiling wide. “I’m sorry you have to spend all of it on me. Maybe keep some, or we could sell a few things.”

“No, Mom. This money is for you only. Grandma told me to open the Bible when times got tough. This gift is meant for you,” Mihai affirmed, squeezing his mother’s hand, assuring her it was the right thing to do.

Once Elena recovered, they began attending church every Sunday together. While Mihai would never again engage deeply with faith as Ana had, he went to church to honor her for what she had secretly shared in that Bible. Occasionally, he’d even ask her to relay a greeting to whatever higher power there might be.

What lessons can we draw from this tale?

We’re not entitled to inheritances. Luckily, Mihai learned he was left one when least expected. You can’t enforce your beliefs upon others; faith and religion are personal. While one can guide people, they’re not to be pushed if they divert. Ana initially pushed Mihai, prompting resistance. But by altering her approach, Mihai discovered a path to faith on his own.

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