Giving The Good Stuff
Giving the Good Stuff
The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD.
1 Chronicles 29:9
In a concrete, windowless room at the back of the sanctuary, we toiled over bins and boxes, putting together bathroom- and kitchen-themed gifts to give away during the main sessions at the retreat for single moms. The items had all been donated or bought for that purpose, and we had fun putting together fifty eye-catching, beribboned baskets of joy.
I was later mortified when one of the women who received a basket pointed out very quietly and very kindly that the hand lotion she received in her basket had previously been opened. My heart sank. I thought I had checked over all of them so carefully—in fact, I had thrown away several items for that very same reason—but in my haste to get the giveaways finished, I must have missed one.
When you work with donated items, this is a scenario that arises more often than you would think. “These clothes didn’t sell at my garage sale, so I thought I would give them to you” is something I’ve heard many times. I bite my tongue and thank the giver kindly, but inside I think, Please don’t give me your junk.
All too often, I’ve found that folks think nothing of giving the ripped, stained, or discarded items they don’t have a use for anymore. What if, just once, we gave our best? What if we donated new clothing to the homeless shelter instead of our discarded items? What if we gave food to the food pantry that we would normally buy for our families, rather than the cheapest cans we find at the grocery store?
I’m not suggesting that the brand should matter or that cheaper food isn’t perfectly acceptable to eat. Rather, I’m suggesting that we consider the heart of the matter and ask ourselves, Am I giving my best? Am I giving freely and wholeheartedly, or am I giving my leftovers?
— Today’s Act of Kindness —
Resolve to give the best you can the next time you have the opportunity—be it the best crayons, food, clothing, or something else entirely.
From the book
