“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”

A few years ago, one of my grandchildren came to me around Christmastime and asked about the teenagers I worked with. She wanted to know if their parents would have money for Christmas presents. I told her that most of them would not. Rather than responding with the sad look I expected, she got very excited and ran off to her bedroom. I soon forgot about the interaction. About an hour later, she came back and asked me to follow her to her room. When I entered, I saw her stuffed animals and dolls lined up, sitting neatly on her bed. Other toys were also carefully arranged. She told me she had talked to them about the “poor” children and asked who wanted to go home with them this Christmas. Then she showed me which ones had “volunteered” and which toys she wanted to give away as well. I could not wait to overwhelm her with gifts that Christmas. Her heart was built that way—and still is. God’s Word has always told us that cheerful giving brings blessing. We don’t give to get, but it can certainly happen. I’ve seen greedy adults cling tightly and selfishly to what they had. They didn’t necessarily go bankrupt, but their countenance revealed a heart that could never be satisfied. Some even seemed to lose much of what they had, simply because they never learned to value it—or to share it. We serve a never-ending Giver of so much more than material things. Today, be a generous soul. #BeTheEdge

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬