Happy Cat Day [generosity]

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“Sitting across from the offering box, He was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins---a measly two cents. Jesus called His disciples over and said, ‘The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford---she gave her all,’” Mark 12:41-44.
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“Happy Cat Day”---perhaps the strangest Mother’s Day card title ever. Currently these Silly Bandz are all the rage in our elementary school. Kids boast the number they have and are eager to accumulate masses of them on their wrists. They peacock around proudly boasting how far up their arm the bands extend. They speak of the ‘gems’ of their collection with pride and ulterior motive of driving of their collection’s value. They hone shrewd negotiating skills through lengthy trading sessions that rival the old-school trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

I heard about these initially from my boys’ friends who were playing here. I began to see the green in their eyes. Fortunately they had friends who were kind enough to share with them so they could each boast one Silly Bandz. One dear little friend Jacob shared one of his with Wyatt on Mother’s Day at church. Wyatt gave this cat shaped bracelet to me as he exited his church classroom, along with the “Happy Cat Day” card.
Perhaps this was the most significant piece of Mother’s Day jewelry I’ll ever receive. Wyatt gave out of his poverty in Silly Bandz, not his wealth. Later that night I pulled Wyatt aside to ask him if he remembered the story Jesus told about the widow who dropped two small coins into the offering while others around her gave lots more. Yes, he remembered the story. “Why was her offering important to Jesus?” I asked. “Because she didn’t have anything but those 2 coins and she gave them to God because she loved Him,” Wyatt reported. “Yes, she honored God just like you honored me today by giving me your only Silly Bandz. I see lots of kids wearing tons of these bracelets. Jacob was kind enough to share one with you and then you passed that blessing on to me. Thank You for allowing Jesus to grow in you a heart that wants to be a blessing to others. I won’t ever forget how you honored me today with this bracelet.”

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“Be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven,” Mth. 5:16.

“You have been treated generously, so live generously,” Mth 10:8.
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