Offering Up Small Things

2 Corinthians 9:7

Every non-profit will say that they really need (at least) one thing: financial support. Homeless shelters, safehouses for victims of forced prostitution, or programs like The Word Among Us that being the Bible & encouraging articles to people in difficult circumstances; they are all at least partially reliant on the fundamental Christian virtue of generosity.

I've attached a picture from a recent issue of The Word Among Us, detailing simple steps to save money, to give to an organization in need. I like this picture, because it shows what "offering it up" can mean, playing out sacrifice in a modern sense. Other steps could include just buying cheaper versions of these; generic brand pop, non-Starbucks coffee, or just doing what I started doing when I started paying for my own food; no more fries & only drink free water! We are all much richer than we think we are; seeing a homeless man in Chicago be excited about a pair of socks reminded me of this simple fact. Please remember to pray, especially for the super-wealthy people (Jeff Bezos, Donald Trump, etc) we love to hate; generosity is a gift from God, and these people really need our prayers if we want to see anything good happen.

May God continue to bless us all!

jahel said:

Or give books to those in dire need

Click to expand...

The church by my last college had this thing called a Blessings Box, where people could put in good or other things, and anyone who needed them could go to the box & take what they need. This box was in the parking lot outside, so anyone could come anytime.

I would contribute what I could, such as saving a bag of chips from lunch to put in there. However, I couldn't contribute much (college student, and poor to begin with); I'd contribute what I could, but I also started putting in religious things; my Good Shepherd statue of Jesus, a couple extra Bibles I had laying around, a few posters with saints & prayers to God, things like that. Now that I'm in Chicago occasionally, I continue to give out granola bars and nut bars and maybe a little chocolate, and also some of those little pocket New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs Bibles, along with The Life Book, a little Christian book the FCA (Christian group) handed out when I was in middle and high school.

Giving religious materials, along with some practical help, helps spread hope to those who need it most & gives them something to read, something that I pray will change their life for the better. Before I started giving out food or books, there was a time in Chicago when a guy came up asking for money. I pulled out my wallet, and handed him a $5 bill. I also saw the little picture of the Blessed Mother I carry around, and realized that (as with so many of my icons), my time for carrying it was over; someone else needed it more. I gave the stranger the money, and with it, I said, "Take Mary, too. She's helped me out a lot, and she can help you, too.". He looked at it, looked me in the eyes, and said , "Thank you; this gives me hope." He took it & the money, and kept saying, "Thank you" , and I could see that he already received the peace of Christ.

Thank you for sharing your recommendation, and may God continue to bless us all!