So here is the honest and true reflection I talked about in the previous post. I would really like this post to be a total brag about the generosity of my kids ( which would , of course, reflect on my awesomeness as a parent --right! ). But it is not...although my kids do have a generous spirit given completely by God and not me...and I already "Face-bragged" on facebook earlier with this photo.
So we have been talking about giving a lot in our house. About tithing, about offerings, about giving in general. We have given to organizations like Samaritan's Purse /http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ and World Vision /http://www.worldvision.org/ in the past and usually had a a lot of fun picking out the "goat" or "chickens" etc to give. We have, in the past, told the kids if they want to give some of their own money we would "match" or they could choose which gifts to give. We had talked about this all week and Sunday was going to be the deciding day. Well, the 12 year old and 9 year old excitedly counted out what they could give, figured out the "match" from mom and dad and what we could "get". Very thoughtful and generous. The 5 year old wanted nothing to do with it. This was his money and he wasn't giving anything. Forget it.
This all happened around the magical dinner time hour when I am my most rushed and least gentle in spirit and I ( parent fail coming ) just sent the 5 year old room. I wanted to SPANK him for his lack of spirit... but you can't spank generosity into someone, you can't force a loving heart...you can only nurture it through example and I was failing at that example miserably at that moment.
Jesus would not have spanked my 5 year old ( although I would like to think he would have) . Jesus would do exactly what my 12 year old did. She very calmly and patiently talked with her little brother about giving and needs. She talked about how much WE have and how little so many others have. She talked about how his 4 dollars would be multiplied and blessed to give so much more. How the rabbit he was "giving" was going to help a child eat that might not eat, help a child earn money for school that might not get to go.
This was an image of who we are at our truest selves...the beautiful reflection of God's patience and love mixed with equal parts stubborn selfishness sin. I'm not just talking about the 5 year old. I saw this discussion about giving as just one more task to do and was mad the 5 year old wasn't getting with the program so I could cross off the "to do" list.
I am grateful my older two reflected the God of infinite patience and love to me and to their brother. I am also grateful for the 5 year old's honesty...and for God showing me my own stubbornness through him.
I pray you will see and feel God's Spirit and Presence this time. That your own nature can be "checked" and that God's nature will shine through
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