One day, an old woman was traveling through the mountains. On her way, she found a precious stone, she picked it up and admiring its beauty, she placed it in her bag and continued on her journey. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry and asked her for food. As she opened her bag to give the man something to eat, he noticed the precious stone in her bag. Knowing the value of the stone and wanting it for himself, the man asked the old woman to give him the stone instead. The woman gave the precious stone to him without any hesitation and continued on her journey. The man was happy to get that precious stone, he knew that with that stone he would never have to worry about food again for it would grant him wealth for a lifetime! But after a few days the man returned to the mountain with the precious stone. He looked for the woman he had found on the mountains, for he wanted to return the stone to her. After some searching, he found her. He went to her and said, “Oh, thank you for giving me the precious stone the other day, but I've come to return it to you with a hope that you can give me something even more precious! Please, give me that which you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone without any hesitation!”

Generosity is a gift that many of us take for granted. Generosity is a virtue we possess, more valuable than any precious stone. Each of us has it within us to be a generous person, but many times we choose to withhold our generosity from others because they are undeserving of it. However, being generous not only blesses the receiver, but also the giver. When the receiver is blessed and realizes that your generosity caused it, you are blessed because that person has become generous in return. We are blessed to bless others - a generous chain, not meant to be broken! Be Generous… Others will want what you have too!

Suggested Prayer:

Dear Lord, you are the greatest example of generosity we have. You gave your most valuable gift, your Son, to an undeserving world without any hesitation, so that we might have an abundant life in you. I ask that you make me generous too, so that others will see the value of your Salvation in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1. Proverbs 11:25.

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.