It has been said that there are three kinds of givers: grudge givers, duty givers, and thanks givers.

Grudge givers say, “I hate to give;” duty givers say, “I am forced to give;” thanks givers say, “I want to give.”

The grudge giver give with a certain amount of resentment. Duty givers give only because of the obligation they have. Thanks givers give freely and from the heart.

A few years ago, I visited the Vatican Museum in Rome. There were countless objects of history that made the tour so special. However, what impressed me the most was a small copper coin.

The guide told us that this was the same type of coin that the poor widow gave in the temple treasury that we read about in Mark’s gospel. Jesus said that she gave more than anyone else, because she gave from her poverty. She gave because she was a thanks giver. I thought how amazing it was that we were talking about that coin 2,000 years later!

It has been said we should give until it hurts. I don’t agree with this. After all, both the grudge giver and the duty giver are already hurting, just thinking of giving.

The gospel doesn’t mention it, but we can imagine the joy the widow had as she was leaving the temple. She teaches us not to give until it hurts, but to give because it feels good!

What kind of a giver are you?

God bless.