Giving 101
What caused my eyes to roll….. I am sure I shook my head and sighed heavily…. The lady said that she was told everything in the box had to be new…. because “we shouldn’t give them out left overs.” That statement shot through me.
Don’t you see???? Making a bold statement like that will cause those of us who are struggling to make ends meet not want to give. When those statements are made, the struggling would rather be looked at as a scrooge than broke. So, what happens is this…. they miss out on giving because of the expense. I realize that there is a dollar store that is affordable; but 1) if a family is truly struggling and broke, even the dollar store is a luxury and 2) I don’t know about you but whenever my kids purchase a toy from the dollar store…. it is broken before we get home.
Take a look at Luke 21: 1-4. Jesus saw the wealthy giving gifts and I am sure they were fancy brand spanking new gifts. More for impression than from the heart, I suspect. Then a poor widow walked up and put her last two tiny copper coins into the offering. She had given all she had to give (I think it would be safe to assume that some could consider that “left overs”). She was giving from the heart and was being rewarded.
To the lady who caused my eyes to roll, “left overs” are fine as long as nothing is broken and is “like new.” I could point out how Earth Friendly and Cost Effective this giving is….. but I am not going to point out the obvious. But to say to those who may be feeling like they can’t participate because they can not pull their weight on the “Brand New” ideology, go ahead and give from what you already have. Be like the widow and give. You will find a blessing within your gift. You are sharing what God has given to you plus you will have caused a smile and joy somewhere in this broken world. The child opening the box probably doesn’t care if it is brand new or “left overs.” The point of this mission is to share God’s love. So please don’t beat yourself up over the idea that it has to be new. It doesn’t…. just give.
And if you are packing your box with all new, I am so glad and well…. hope you didn’t charge it!! Because if you give and it becomes a burden to you then a thankful heart becomes a burdened heart….. defeating the purpose, right? But, those of you who can not afford the new, just know that I am filling my box with “tiny copper coins” so carelessly labeled “left overs.” And my heart, well, is just as warm and perhaps a tad bit warmer because I didn’t allow the “brand new ideology” drive my giving.
God Bless……
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