A Generous Surprise
While Ray and I were in Chattanooga celebrating our 50th anniversary, complete strangers shared our joy over and over again. Having so many rejoice with us was nourishing to our spirits.
We did lots of shopping on Saturday, including a major shopping trip to Trader Joe’s to get ready for our family to arrive the next day to celebrate Christmas. When we got to the checkout, a cashier invited us to leave the line we were in and come to hers which was empty. She told me that she had a particularly good bagger. Both were very kind throughout the whole process of checking out our two carts of groceries. She kept making sure that none of the bags were too heavy.
Throughout the weekend, I learned that I could bless other people by telling them we were in Chattanooga for our 50th anniversary. While their reactions gave us joy, we found that just knowing it gave joy to these strangers, too. When our Trader Joe’s bagger and checker finished with our groceries, I told them about our anniversary. The checker said, “Wait!” and went straight to the floral department. She came back with a large bouquet and gave it to us as a gift. We were delighted. We snapped this selfie after the kind bagger helped us load everything into the car.
It has opened into a full and beautiful bouquet and has stayed beautiful. I took this photo 8 days later.
What a delight to walk through life experiencing the joy of giving and receiving generously. Be sure to give your children this joy-filled life lesson.
The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:25
Being generous is one way your children can be like our heavenly Father.
But if any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
Paul instructed Timothy to teach those who are rich:
Instruct them to do good,
to be rich in good works,
to be generous and ready to share,
storing up for themselves
the treasure of a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
1 Timothy 6:18-19