A Real Offering

"Mom, can I have some money to put in the collection plate?" asked Gunnar. "Didn't you bring your own offering?" Mom asked. Gunnar shook his head. Mom frowned, but she reached into her wallet and took out some money. "Just this once," she said as she handed it to Gunnar. That afternoon, Gunnar had a suggestion for his mother. "My birthday is next week, you know. If you can't think of anything to get me, I have some ideas." Mom looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, actually, when Grandpa and Grandma were here last week, they left a birthday present for you. Maybe I'll just give you that." She smiled brightly at Gunnar. "Mom! I'm serious. I'm talking about what you might get for me, not what they're giving me. Like I said, I have some ideas." "What's wrong with my idea?" asked Mom, acting surprised. "I'm sure the package they left has something really nice in it." Gunnar frowned. "You're just kidding, right? I mean, it won't really be from you if you give me something they bought me." "You're absolutely right, Gunnar," said Mom. "I'm not truly giving if I give you something that doesn't belong to me--something I didn't put any thought or effort or money toward. You wouldn't be happy about that, would you?" Gunnar shook his head. "But at church this morning, you were okay with giving God a gift that wasn't really from you," Mom pointed out. "But you used to always give me money for church!" said Gunnar. "When you were too young to have your own money, I gave you some so you'd get in the habit of giving to God. Now that you have an allowance, you should give some of your own money. Then you'll be giving a real offering instead of simply dropping money into the collection plate, right?" Gunnar sighed. "Yeah, I guess so." "The Bible tells us to give to God with a cheerful heart out of love and gratitude for all He's done for us," said Mom. "When we give gifts to God that cost us something, it reminds us of His gift to us that cost Him everything--His Son, Jesus." Gunnar thought about it and nodded. "Next time, I'll bring my own offering." –Nance E. Keyes