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I had a good lesson in giving the other day.  Ironically it came from my four-year old daughter, Sierra.  I’m not sure she totally understood exactly what she was doing, but it showed me the heart of a giver even at such a young age.  Most importantly, it showed me how much of a giver I am NOT.  Sad, but true.

Sierra came to Steve and I on Wednesday and said, “Mom, I want to get the toys I don’t use anymore and give them away.”  Of course I said, “Okay, here is a bag.  Just put in it what you don’t want and we will take it somewhere to give away.”  Now, just so you know, I was thinking that the “somewhere” was going to be our local Salvation Army.  I mean, really…. It is quick to drop off.  I sometimes don’t even have to get out of the car.  I just hand the bag of junk to the guy in the semi-truck and drive away.  No sweat.  That was MY thinking…

After a few minutes Sierra came back with a bag of toys she had collected.  Not only did she collect toys, but she dressed up.  She had a pretty skirt and leggings, a nice top and her “play” high heals on.  (Uh oh.  I think my Salvation Army trip was quickly approaching.)  I told her, “Wow! Sierra you got so much stuff!  That is so nice of you.  After dinner we will drive it to the Salvation Army to give it to the guy for kids that need stuff.”  Her response?  “Oh no!  I don’t want to drive.  You have to go with me to the doors!”  I said, “The doors?  What doors are we talking about?  We’ll drive down the street.  Salvation Army isn’t that far away.”

Her concept of giving her toys away apparently had nothing to do with driving, a man in a semi-truck, or Salvation Army.  Come to find out, she had plans of me walking her around the neighborhood while she knocked on doors to find kids to give her stuff too.  I should be proud, right?  I am.  I was…. after a while.  I hate to admit that, but it is the truth.  My first thoughts were, “Ugh.  I have company coming over soon, I need to clean, I need to get myself ready.  It would be so much easier to drop it off.  Besides, who wants to knock on doors!?  I’m going to feel stupid knocking on a door to give a used toy to a random person.”  Yep.  There it is.  My pride, ego, selfish, arrogant ways coming to the surface of my everyday life.

Eventually, I packed up Cheyenne (my one year old) and my friendly, little, toy giving elf and I set out to the neighborhood.  We rang door bells.  No one was mean.  A few weren’t home.  Everyone was so nice and I have to admit that after the first 2 or 3 I was sort of getting into it.  I was pretty excited to give away that $2 microphone from Target or the toy key chain that made noises.  I even participated in the giving away of a Tinkerbell coloring book (a little used, but whatever).  One house that had two little kids even gave Sierra $5 for being so nice.  We walked home pretty proud of ourselves…. or ummm… Sierra walked home pretty proud of herself.  hahaa

I learned how selfish I am.  Amazing what lessons you learn from a four-year old.    I’m so proud of my little toy giving elf.  I hope and pray that her giving spirit and heart never goes away.   God is such a giver.  It took the innocence of a small child to remind me that it is better to give then to receive.  Find someone to give to this week.  Go out of your comfort zone.  You may be surprised at how exciting and enjoyable it is.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38