December is considered a season of giving. People give close to Christmas to commemorate God's greatest gift, his Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus was young, the Magi of the East brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the child King. This is where the tradition of gift-giving during December originated. Today, people may give to charities for tax write-offs in December. A more spiritual way of looking at giving is that we give because God has given to us. God has given to us our lives and the wonderful things in life that we enjoy, and God's Son Jesus Christ who offers us salvation and eternal life.
I recently read a story about a young girl who felt compelled to give in return for all that she had been given. The young girl regularly attended a local church's after-school program. Her mother was a poor, single mother who battled the crippling disease of alcoholism. The church continued to offer hope and caring to the young girl, which did not go unnoticed by her. One day, just prior to the beginning of the program, she handed her pastor a heavy, small paper sack. It was filled with pennies that she had collected for several months. She was so grateful for the after-school program that she wanted to give something back to it. Twenty years later, this young girl is now a full-time children's director in a church, and it all started with the act of giving by that local church many years before.
I recently read a story about a young girl who felt compelled to give in return for all that she had been given. The young girl regularly attended a local church's after-school program. Her mother was a poor, single mother who battled the crippling disease of alcoholism. The church continued to offer hope and caring to the young girl, which did not go unnoticed by her. One day, just prior to the beginning of the program, she handed her pastor a heavy, small paper sack. It was filled with pennies that she had collected for several months. She was so grateful for the after-school program that she wanted to give something back to it. Twenty years later, this young girl is now a full-time children's director in a church, and it all started with the act of giving by that local church many years before.
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