Freely Give

Jeffery's actions this morning brought to life for me two scriptures, and I was once again humbled by my darling son.

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Yesterday, Jeffery came home with another fundraiser from school that was for the March of Dimes. It is only a four day long deal, and we are doing another fundraiser for the playground, so my first thought was "well, we will just let this one slide". It came as a little box that you can fold and it makes a coin bank. I folded it last night and just had it sitting on the kitchen counter. Jeff was reading all the facts it has about the foundation on the box to me as I cleaned the kitchen. Then he marveled that the money had helped the baby that was pictured on the side.

This morning I was prodding him along, getting him ready for school. I told him it was time to go brush his teeth. He walked toward the back and was right back in the kitchen. I noticed that he was trying to shove a five dollar bill into the box, and was having trouble because the slot is for coins. I applauded him on how generous he was being, as I helped him fold the bill smaller. When i grabbed the money from him, it had two five dollar bills together. I said, "Oh buddy, you have two here. Take this one back and I will put in five, just like you." I left to get my five and he had gone on to brush his teeth.

As I was helping him get on his shoes, he told me that he had 15 dollars in his box. I corrected him and said no we just have ten, you put five and I put five. He said, "No, I put in my other five, too."

I was taken aback. I praised him again at how awesome he was and generous, but I told him, if he wanted to take back his other five he could. He told me, that it was okay, because he had plenty more money in his wallet.

My first thought was to not even do this fundraiser, and then when I gave my five it was only because Jeffery had done it first. He gave so freely, without any hesitancy. He was a cheerful giver. Proud can not even begin to describe how I felt of him at that moment. I left the room and cried. I can learn so much from him. I need to humble myself, as my little child.

My prayer for him, is that he always keeps his generous heart.