At worship one year, my pastor invited children to come forward to receive a gift: an envelope containing five dollars. She gave the children only one instruction. They could not spend the money on themselves. She suggested they find someone who needed the money more than they did. She would ask them to share what they did with the money at worship the next week.
The following Sunday, one child said her grandpa had Parkinson’s disease, so she gave her five dollars to an organization that is working to find a cure for it. Another said he gave his money to the area ELCA Bible Camp. Another said he gave his money to a program at his school that will help the homeless.
I was amazed at their understanding of what it means to give to others who need help–be it a person, a cause, or an organization that benefits others. I imagine it was tempting for each to think about what they could have gotten for themselves. What lessons can we learn from these young givers?
This message is excerpted from “How children teach us about generosity,” by Kris Brugamyer from the October 17, 2019, blog of the Women of the ELCA.
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