Can't We Just Put It All In?
My four year old granddaughter, Madi, is staying with us for a few days. She was excited to go to church today. She remembered her class and some of her little friends from last visit and could hardly wait to go to children's church. Several of the adults always have goodies, gum or hair barrettes for her and she says she likes to hear Grandpa preach. So, this morning, she was very excited.
She always sits between Ned and I and like most grandparents, we give her money for the offering. As per our routine, I reached down to get my purse and opening it up, I gave her a dollar. She asked for more, so I gave her another. Then she said, "Grandma, can't we just put it all in?" What do you say to a child who is willing to give it all? She didn't ask if she could have some to take home or some to buy candy or some for her own little purse. She asked to put it all in. I was humbled as I took the rest of the bills out of my wallet and watched as she proudly put it all in the passing collection plate.
This giving attitude is not unusual for Madi. She is always trying to give me something. She will hand me a toy and say, "here Grandma, I want you to have this". Or she makes me a picture and wants me to share it with everyone. She does the same thing with her aunt Jenny, her other grandparents, and her friends. She has such a giving spirit. Madi is not worried about running out of money or not having enough toys. She knows she will be taken care of. She does not concern herself with the worthiness of the recipients. She just wants to give. Giving makes her happy.
Oh, that we all had a "Madi-heart". Can you imagine if we just wanted to give. How great would it be if one of our greatest joys was giving, if we were not concerned about running out, or not having enough or whether others deserved our gifts? Wouldnt that attitude make us more like Jesus? Wouldn't that behavior be most pleasing to our Father? Shouldn't we all want a "Madi-heart"? As we begin a new year, perhaps we should all make concerted efforts to be more giving, with our time, with our money, with our possessions and with our love. I know the year will be better if we just put it all in.
Neva
II Corinthians 8:7 "But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work (giving) also."
II Corinthians 9:7b "God loves a cheerful giver."
She always sits between Ned and I and like most grandparents, we give her money for the offering. As per our routine, I reached down to get my purse and opening it up, I gave her a dollar. She asked for more, so I gave her another. Then she said, "Grandma, can't we just put it all in?" What do you say to a child who is willing to give it all? She didn't ask if she could have some to take home or some to buy candy or some for her own little purse. She asked to put it all in. I was humbled as I took the rest of the bills out of my wallet and watched as she proudly put it all in the passing collection plate.
This giving attitude is not unusual for Madi. She is always trying to give me something. She will hand me a toy and say, "here Grandma, I want you to have this". Or she makes me a picture and wants me to share it with everyone. She does the same thing with her aunt Jenny, her other grandparents, and her friends. She has such a giving spirit. Madi is not worried about running out of money or not having enough toys. She knows she will be taken care of. She does not concern herself with the worthiness of the recipients. She just wants to give. Giving makes her happy.
Oh, that we all had a "Madi-heart". Can you imagine if we just wanted to give. How great would it be if one of our greatest joys was giving, if we were not concerned about running out, or not having enough or whether others deserved our gifts? Wouldnt that attitude make us more like Jesus? Wouldn't that behavior be most pleasing to our Father? Shouldn't we all want a "Madi-heart"? As we begin a new year, perhaps we should all make concerted efforts to be more giving, with our time, with our money, with our possessions and with our love. I know the year will be better if we just put it all in.
Neva
II Corinthians 8:7 "But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work (giving) also."
II Corinthians 9:7b "God loves a cheerful giver."
posted by Neva | 12:48 PM
4 Comments:
Leave it to a child to enlighten us all. Madi sounds delightful.
Yvonne
That is very good---I am making it my only New Years resolution---giving it all Ive got.
Dan
Hopefully she is that way with her money too and not just yours.
Lyndsay James
I dont know that any of us know how to give it our all but would sure be nice if we could do this
J544
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