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     When our children were small, family vacations were times that they relished.  It was a time for them to get away, do something fun and they looked forward to having an opportunity to spend their saved allowances on whatever treasure their heart desired. They also knew, from previous vacations, that if their funds were not sufficient, mom and/or dad would “add a little something to it” to assist with their purchases if they came up short.  They trusted us to be generous, and we trusted them to tithe.  When the end of the week rolled around, they knew that they would receive their allowances, and they also knew that they were expected to put their tithes into their Sunday School envelopes immediately, and the rest was theirs to save.  It became a pattern for them to give regularly, and it became a pattern for us to be generous with them when they had a need.     Some might say that we as parents were overindulgent, but that was not the case.  In family gatherings now, our grown children will talk about their childhood memories, so many wonderful and fun memories, but the one topic that seems to come up time and again is their recollection of “having…or not having”.  We allow them their time to reflect (usually reflecting on the “not having”) and then…as they know will be the case, we as parents remind them that they never lacked for love, friendship, essentials such as clothing and food, or for time together as a family at home, at church, or away.

     Maxie Dunnam quotes Second Corinthians 9:10 – “Now he who provides seed for sowing and bread for food will provide the seed for you to sow;  he will multiply it and swell the harvest of your benevolence, and you will always be rich enough to be generous.”  What a promise that is!  Our giving back to God what He has freely given to us is of such importance that it is a much written about subject in the New Testament, see, Matthew 6:21; Matthew 7:6; Matthew 10:8, Matthew 22:21; Luke 12:48; Luck 16:10-12; Acts 20:35; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 6:6,7; and, 1 Timothy 6:10.

     The subjects of stewardship and tithing are ones that can be uncomfortable to discuss in an open forum.  I believe that is why we are given our church packets and asked to take them home and open our hearts to Him through prayer.  There, we can ask for His guidance and have trust in our Father that, when we give with a generous heart, He will accept our gifts and, as He assures us in Second Corinthians 9:10 – “add a little something to it!” – Karen