Molly's Gifts

My seven-year-old decided that she wanted to take money out of her piggy bank and buy gifts for family members. It started in Aldi when she saw a pillow and said it looked like something good for Nana. I was touched by her innocence in having no idea how much the item cost, nor caring. I'm too cheap to buy a fuzzy decorative pillow for $15!

She proceeded to name other things she would buy for the family if she had her money. "Pop needs those tools," she decided. Again, my eyes went straight to the tag: $19.99! Not that others aren't worthy, but all I could think of was my little girl giving up her own money when she didn't have to. My mind was on selfishness and protecting her, while Molly's was on selflessness.

Today we went out again, and she made her purchases. I couldn't believe how deliberate such a youngster could be about looking over everything, and making such careful decisions. She selected several purchases, paid out of her pink wallet, and proudly carried the plastic bag on the ride home. She even noted aloud that the amount that she had spent "wasn't that much." Color me convicted.

Molly took it upon herself to wrap her gifts, tie the bows, and even write the names on the tags. I watched and silently thanked God. A short while later, after all was finished and placed under the tree, the Spirit gave me a greater nudge: I can learn a lesson from this little one.

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven," Jesus said in Matthew 19:14. Here my daughter was content to share what she had, and I had tried to talk her out of it. Gulp. This is what my broken and contrite heart looks like in real life: seeing my stinginess for what it is, and worse, that I don't always give joyfully this time of year, but more as a "have to."

Molly's gifts

Christ said that children show us His kingdom, and as usual, He was right. The Lord loves a cheerful giver, and I pray to become more of one. Not only can I be frugal with my resources, but I often am with my time as well, finding it hard to devote all of myself to someone in need at a particular moment. I tend to get overwhelmed easily, and this is a matter of daily prayer. 

Another truth that God lovingly put before me through my little one is that we must allow people to be a blessing to us, and use the gifts He has given us to bless others. If Molly seeks to minister to family members and show her love through giving gifts, then woe to me if I should try to stop her! The "Protector" in me feared that others might not appreciate the gifts, but that's the devil talking. As her mother, my role in this is to give guidance about proper items to purchase, as well as reasonable amounts to spend. Other than that, I'm ecstatic that the Lord prompted me to back off.

We have a group that gathers at our home every Wednesday evening for Bible study and a meal. One of our faithful attendees, Burney, roasts his own coffee. Every week, he loyally brings his supplies and provides us with steaming cups of home-roasted and freshly brewed coffee. If Burney can't make it one week, not only do we miss his presence, but his ministry of loving us through coffee. None of us would dream of taking Burney's ministry to us away from him; plus, we delight in the coffee!

The Lord is showing me that for Molly, this situation is similar. She had joy in selecting and purchasing those gifts on her own, in addition to making them look nice with the paper. Her childlike eyes saw past what she was giving up to what others were receiving, and the Lord put the sensation of satisfaction in her. Thank You, thank You, my Father, for teaching me more about your majesty through a little child!

Not only that...this same Father gave us the gift of His own Son, knowing that many of us wouldn't appreciate it, either. It was the heftiest price tag in history, but He did it for me. He understands about giving gifts, since he gave the greatest One; because of this, I know He sees Molly and delights in her gift-giving. I also know He sees my shortcomings and reminds me I'm not hopeless; the blood of His Gift washed my sins, and enables me to repent. 

Thank You, Lord, for this real-life lesson in "sorrowful, yet rejoicing." That's how I feel at this moment. Sometimes I think self-awareness and sanctification are going to kill me. May I never forget the feeling, yet may You enable my heart to bear it. "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). May You transform my heart so I can fit that description.