Mark 12:42 “A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.”

This is probably one of the most familiar passages in the New Testament. What a great lesson on giving! Jesus simply points out to his disciples that it isn’t the size of the gift that matters. It’s the size of the heart of giving.

In my years working with Non-profits, part of my job was to ask donors for support. I have never had a problem asking others to support a worthy ministry or cause. Sometimes those I asked would give very generously. Other times they didn’t. There was one widow who supported the last ministry I worked for. She would send in $1 each month. I visited her when I could to thank her. She never understood why I would go out my way to visit her since she only could give $1. I knew her $1 was her heart gift.

Moms and Dads, it is never too early to teach your children to give. They need to learn the joy of giving. Now I don’t mean for you to just give them your spare change to put in the offering plate. That’s fine, but it’s not their money. When your children get old enough to earn some money, teach them the importance of giving at least a tithe of that to the Lord. But let them choose how to give it.

Lessons learned early about tithing will carry your children through their life. I just love seeing the children each week in our Children’s Church bring in their offering. I love seeing them put that money towards supporting the two children in Guatemala and the one in Thailand. They can literally put a face with their gift.

As with all lessons we teach, Moms and Dads, you need to model this. Show them the joy you have when you give. That is something they will never forget.