Pokemon Generosity

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” –2nd Corinthians 9:6-8

Our 9 year old son, Casey, collects Pokemon cards [like baseball trading cards], and he always wants to go to the store & buy some more. And we are trying to teach Casey how to get what he wants: by earning money.

Casey has a checklist of chores, and if he executes those chores with a good attitude, we give him an allowance. If his attitude stinks, well…he still has to do the chores, but he gets no money. 

When he gets the money: 10% is given to church—no choice—and 20% is saved—no choice. The remainder is his to do with as he pleases.

 

Here’s where it gets good: Casey loves his Pokemon cards. They cost $4.19 for a pack of 10. He buys them, makes a big deal over opening each pack, plays with them, sorts them, ‘knows them’, trades them at school, organizes them into little file folders, etc. He’s INTO it.

 

So…on Valentine’s Day, our middle daughter Michelle was not feeling good, she was sad, depressed, felt lonely and blue. You know what Casey did? He made a heart out of construction paper, wrote a love note to his sister, CUT UP SOME POKEMON CARDS!! –glued them to the Valentine’s card and gave them to Michelle.

 

·      How do you think that made me feel?

 

·      In response to his generosity to his sister—my daughter–what do you think I did?

Answer: I went to the store, spent $20 bucks and bought him a big ol’ tin box full of Pokemon cards!

 

·      And if my son’s cheerful generosity touched me that way, how do you think God feels when we are generous & love one another?

 

God loves us, and He wants us to be generous with each other. When we are generous, He promises to cover our needs and expand our capacity to give.

 

Thank you, God, for your Fatherly love: for teaching us your principles, and for being patient while we foolishly and tepidly tip toe into your truth and ‘try out your principles’ to see if they work’. 

God, help me to be like my son—help me to be like YOUR son.