Carol and her husband, Don, held a garage sale at their home. They cleared out some clutter from their home. Importantly, items they no longer used are now in the hands of kids and adults who will enjoy them. From the beginning, however, Carol knew that a successful garage sale would mean something else–more dollars for mission. Ten percent of the proceeds are now supporting ministry through Katie’s Fund.
For Carol, this way of sharing income is a regular practice of discipleship. “My mother taught me the joy of giving when I was a child,” she said. “Her thing was 10 percent to the Lord, 10 percent that I must save, and the rest to give or save or spend as I wanted.”
When Carol and Don married, they agreed to continue tithing all income no matter the source. This includes garage sales.
This is adapted from “A garage sale tithe,” by Emma Crossen, a stewardship story appearing on the Women of the ELCA website in 2014. Today is Small Business Saturday (#ShopSmall). Shop today at a small, neighborhood, and/or black-owned business.
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