Tagged: Daily Story

This year I stopped to contemplate the kind of gift I’d bring To lay at the nail-scarred feet of my Gracious Heavenly King. He’s given my very life to me, and the blessings I hold dear, But I can’t come up with anything appropriate, I fear. Every time I give Him something, He more than doubles the return… I gave to Him my weakness, His strength He then confirmed Would always be there for me to securely hold on to. I gave Him my shattered life – He gave me life anew. I gave Him my pain and heartbreak, all...

From the Jewish philosopher, Maimonides 12th century There are eight degrees or steps in the duty of charity. The first and lowest degree is to give, but with reluctance or regret. This is the gift of the hand, but not of the heart. The second is, to give cheerfully, but not proportionately to the distress of the sufferer. The third is, to give cheerfully and proportionately, but not until solicited. The fourth is, to give cheerfully, proportionately, and even unsolicited; but to put it in the poor man’s hand, thereby exciting in him the painful emotion of shame. The fifth...

Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, “Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside of...

A police officer in Melbourne, Florida, noticed that a little girl at an elementary school was in need of some help. He was just visiting, but the girl caught his eye. He approached the girl, whose shoes were split and the front was “flapping in the breeze.” He asked her what size she wore. Then he left. Later, he returned with two brand-new shoes in her size along with matching socks. According to the school’s bookkeeper, “she was just in heaven.” During this time of year especially, help your brothers and sisters in need. They may be facing hard times,...

In our church we have no musical instruments, only the beautifully blended voices of our congregation. During each service we sing five songs and almost always, during one of those five songs, I stop singing in order to listen to the beautiful sound of all the other voices rising to the high ceiling of our meeting place. Lately I have found myself praying as I rejoin the singing. My prayer is that my voice be according to the will of God, free of affectation, with no thought of how I sound to others but with my heart filled with the...