The Giving of a Child
I was at church the other day, and during the collection I noticed something; something I notice now and then but rarely think about. Children love to put money in the collection basket; they will put a dime or a twenty dollar bill in and it doesn't really matter, it is the act of giving that thrills them.
Not don't get me wrong, I am not idealizing children here, they can be selfish and cruel and I suspect that they get a thrill out of putting money in the collection basket simply because it makes them feel a little more significant in a world were they often feel very small. Still I think at least a small part of their joy and perhaps a large part comes from the fact they do love giving for giving's sake.
It is a shame that so many adults have lost this love. When we give at all, we often give with at least a small amount of resentment or with the suspicision that those who receive our charity will misuse it. The thing is, how our charity is used should never be our concern. If our charity is misused it is not our fault; it is the fault of those who misuse it.
Let us remember that what we have been given is a gift that is meant to be shared. If we don't share our gifts then it is us who are guilty of misusing charity.
Not don't get me wrong, I am not idealizing children here, they can be selfish and cruel and I suspect that they get a thrill out of putting money in the collection basket simply because it makes them feel a little more significant in a world were they often feel very small. Still I think at least a small part of their joy and perhaps a large part comes from the fact they do love giving for giving's sake.
It is a shame that so many adults have lost this love. When we give at all, we often give with at least a small amount of resentment or with the suspicision that those who receive our charity will misuse it. The thing is, how our charity is used should never be our concern. If our charity is misused it is not our fault; it is the fault of those who misuse it.
Let us remember that what we have been given is a gift that is meant to be shared. If we don't share our gifts then it is us who are guilty of misusing charity.
