There are a lot of lessons learned in our home. Whether the circumstances are good or bad there is almost always a lesson to be learned. Usually you think of the parents teaching the kids the lessons, but the other day I learned on from Addy.
We had a big pile of rocks that needed to be moved in our front yard. We were doing some landscaping and tearing out the dead bushes the drought left us, so we had to scoop out the pea gravel from around the dead bushes. Sorry, forgot pictures of the work.
It was a job the kids could help with, so they started scooping gravel into little buckets and moving it to the "play" gravel pile by the garage. It was hard work and I told them I would pay them for their efforts. Addy got to work and worked hard for at least 45 minutes. When we finished she was tired and sweating. I decided to pay her $2 and she was thrilled. I gave her a dollar and 4 quarters and we had a little math lesson while we were at it. Luke didn't work as hard, so he only earned 50 cents. More on that story later...
The next day was Sunday so we went to church. We had talked about giving part of the money we make to God before, but not recently. As the plate for offering came around I saw her get out some of the money that she earned. The precious quarters that she had worked so hard for. Not one, but two of them. Then I saw her give two quarters to Luke to put in. I quietly asked her why she was giving money to Luke to put in. She said that since he didn't have as much she wanted to help him.
So when the plate came by I watched her cheerfully put in half of the money she earned from the sweat of her brow.
I don't know if she really understood what she had just done, (maybe she did) but it taught me something. She didn't have much, but she gave half of what she had. She wasn't holding on tightly to her money so she could buy a new toy or candy. She trusted that she has what she needs and was free to give from the joy of her heart. When I saw what she did with her money it made me want to give her more. Then it dawned on me. Is that how God feels about me when I give? I sat there and thought about the way it made me feel when my daughter gave (what to me seemed) sacrificially. I wanted to give her more because I saw how she was using it. Is God that way with me? When He sees how I use my money does that make Him want to give me more? Do I use His money in a way that pleases Him? Or do I spend it on candy and toys?
I'm not saying I should give more to make God want to give me more, so I can get more stuff. You don't give more to get more stuff. If you aren't faithful with little then you can't be faithful with much. And just because you are faithful with little doesn't mean He will give you a bunch of money. He knows what is best for us. It is a blessing that God gives us just enough so that we can give but still be secure in Him and not money.
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