I grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania on a small farm out in the country. I was blessed to have my maternal grandparents live with us for most of my early childhood.

We had two pigs and a chicken coop filled with chickens. Each year, my grandfather would plant a huge garden. Grandpa tilled the soil using one of those wooden plows with the big wheel in the front. He pushed the plow, getting the soil ready for the many vegetables he would plant.

My grandparents worked hard. My parents worked hard at minimum salary jobs. I watched as my parents and grandparents gave our stuff away. They gave away the eggs, the vegetables and sometimes, even money. I couldn’t understand why they would give away “our” stuff. I promised myself that when I grew up and had a family of my own, I would think twice before I would give anything away.

I was a single parent with two small sons, working part-time as a Student Associate Pastor. We had enough. I made sure of that, enough unless a crisis came up. My younger son needed glasses. We bought the glasses, but two weeks after getting the glasses, he broke them. Crisis!

We walked to a small eye glass shop. With each step, I prayed the glasses could be fixed, only to hear they could not. The owner must have seen the despair in my eyes. He told my son to pick out a pair of frames. He was going to make him a brand new pair of glasses. I asked, “How can I ever repay you?” His response, “When you are able, become a generous giver.”

I promised him and God I would be. I give so I might be the enough for someone else. God is faithful!