Generosity from Childhood

And they'll know we are Christians by our love,

by our love;

Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

~Peter Scholtes, lyrics; Carolyn Arends, music

I tried very hard to raise my three girls to be generous.  My philosophy has always been that no matter how poor you are, there is always someone who is worse off.  Even during the period when we were so poor we were on food stamps, I would give a $1 stamp to the girls to give to someone who was hungry.  After we finally were stable financially, I never let them pass a red kettle at Christmas time without contributing something, even if it was only a quarter.  The same principle worked with the collection plate at church.  Even if it were just a few pennies, we always gave something.  Now it is blankets for the homeless in the local downtown park, food the the food pantry, and so many other ways that we can be generous.

I received a phone call from my youngest this week with news of a tragedy.  Her best friend's older sister was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident.  She leaves behind an adolescent daughter whose future is now very uncertain.  My daughter's first reaction was to suggest and then facilitate the setting up of an account where people could donate to a fund for this child's education.  She then called me to say, "Mom, someone needs our help."

Is there someone who needs your help today?  Is there someone or something that would be blessed by your generosity?  And remember...

Goodness is about character - integrity,

honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage,

and the like.  More than anything else,

it is about how we treat other people.

~Dennis Prager