Little Delights and Precious Hearts

  My friend had a garage sale at her house yesterday. My kids LOVE garage sales. I took Daley while the big kids were in school. She found this little necklace with a circular pendant. It was actually a pretty great find for only $1. We ran home, dumped out her piggy bank, and filled her zipper pouch with just enough coins. When big sis came home and discovered her shiny new necklace, of course, she needed one too. She grabbed her money pouch and we made our third trip. The neighbor kid followed. Finley found lots of treasures, but one stood out; a long necklace with a big oval sapphire-colored stone. In amazement, she carried the special piece to my friend and asked if it was an amulet. Jessica looked a little confused, so I explained the significance of Sophia The First's necklace. "Yes! It IS an amulet!" Finley could not get her coins out fast enough, and even though the necklace hung down to her belly button, she wore it proudly. Dante, our neighborhood friend, found a special piece of his own, a bracelet with huge sparkly beads. He really wanted it, but had no money. Finley offered to pay for it, and I found myself cringing inside. Will she be ok with using her last coins on him? Without hesitation, she dumped out enough coins for Dante's bracelet. I asked her later if she knew that she would not get the money back. I didn't want it to turn into an argument between the two of them. She said, "yes mom...I don't want the money back. I just wanted him to have the bracelet." I felt so proud, that she recognized the value in blessing a friend. Then, they ran back to the house to play with their "magical" jewelry.

  Ryder came home with a cap gun the other day.  He got it from a friend at the park. His friend said that he could borrow it and gave him a sheet of caps to use. Ryder LOVED it, so Ted ordered him his own cap gun off the internet. When it came in the mail, he was beyond excited. He took it outside at night and was fascinated by the spark that went off when he pulled the trigger. The combination of a  loud noise, a spark, a little smoke, and well, just looking like a gun, was magic. He wanted to play with it from sun up to sun down. He decided he needed to take back the gun he borrowed from his friend, so he asked me for 3 sheets of caps to give him with it. "Are you sure buddy? He only gave you one?" said his stingy mom. "Yes mom. I have a lot and I want to give him more than he gave
me." I was surprised and challenged by his generosity, and I stopped myself from questioning him any more because I realized that it was kind of amazing. My son also understood the value in sharing, and did it without prompting or loathing. I love that about him, and I'm grateful that he may be this kind of man. Scripture says that "good will come to those who are generous and lend freely" (Psalm 112:5). I believe this is true.

  Our pastor says that giving is an act of worship. I agree. Giving reveals something special about our hearts...that we aren't entangled with greed or fear. When we give, we show Jesus that His people have value, and that we trust Him to provide for us. I'm so proud of my kids, and how they both challenged me. They still fight over their toys at home, but for that heart-warming moment, I am giving thanks.