In the midst of children's ministry yesterday, time for offering came along, and my 4yo turned and looked at me with expectancy, his hand outstretched.  "Mom, I need offering," he stated.  Flustered Mom was not able to dig through her messy purse at just that moment, and so I had to quickly quiet him down, and move on with the class.  Not satisfied, he demanded again, and again, I interrupted the activity to explain that I did not have offering to give him at this moment, and he would have to help me remember next time.  Poor guy!  It's such a big deal to the younger ones especially, and I'm not great at remembering for them ahead of time.  But as the offering cans were passed I was struck with a moment of beautiful realization, and the Lord yet again used my children to teach me!

My children rarely have money of their own to offer, it must be given to them first.  Sometimes there are gifts from other sources, and other times extra jobs to earn money, but even then, Mom and Dad are the main source of "offering".  My Heavenly Father, likewise, is the source of my own offerings.  Even as I have heard in prayer so many many times, offering is merely giving back to God a portion of what He has already given.  But seeing this played out in a 4 yo and the disappointment of not receiving struck me, because unlike frazzled forgetful Mom, our God is dependable and faithful to gift us with so much to offer back to Him...and it ALL has come from Him in the first place...money, time, talents...He gifts us that we might gift it back to Him.