A Heart That Gives Freely
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| At PPC church during Offertory with David: I can't believe my son is teaching me how to have a heart that gives freely! |
As a family serving in Cambodia, we have always held on to one simple belief. God has blessed us so that we can be a 👉 blessing to others. Not only to those who already know Him, but especially to those who have yet to know Christ.
We say this often. We pray about it. We try to live it out in small, daily ways. And this week, we saw it come alive through our son David in such a beautiful and unexpected way.
There are moments in parenting that quietly stay in your heart. Not because they are grand or extraordinary, but because they reveal something deeper. Something eternal. Something that reminds you that God is truly at work in your home.
This week was one of those moments for me.
A Simple Beginning
When David was younger, giving was something we taught him in a very simple way.
Every Sunday, when the offering pouch was passed around, I would quietly give him a small amount of money so he could place something inside. His face would light up every time. He did not fully understand what it meant, but he knew it was something good. Something joyful.
As parents, we were not focused on the amount. We just wanted to plant a seed. A habit. A heart posture.
We wanted him to grow up knowing that giving is not an obligation. It is an act of love. It is an act of worship.
When Giving Became Personal
Last year, something changed.
David started his small brownie business. It began as a simple idea, something fun for him to do, but slowly it became something more. He started learning how to earn, how to save, and how to manage what he had.
And then, without being told, he began setting aside ten percent of his daily sales.
He keeps it in a small blue envelope.
Every day, he would count his earnings, take a portion, and place it carefully inside. Some days were good. Some days were not. There were days when sales were slow, and he felt disappointed. There were also days when he sold more than expected and felt excited.
Through all of it, he remained consistent.
As parents, we watched quietly. We guided him when needed, but we also allowed him to process his own feelings. When he faced disappointment, we reminded him that business is not always easy. There will be days when things do not go as planned.
But we also reminded him of something more important.
To be grateful.
To stay humble.
To trust God in every situation.
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| David's Divine Brownies is now being sold to 12 Schools in Phnom Penh |
Last week, David experienced his highest sales so far.
He came to us with so much excitement. His eyes were bright, his voice full of joy. And then he told us something that stayed in my heart.
He said that before, he depended on my money so he could give during the offering. But now, he was happy because he could give from what he had earned.
That Sunday, he gave eight dollars.
It may seem small to some people, but to us, it meant so much more.
It was not about the amount.
It was about the heart.
He gave with joy.
He gave with understanding.
He gave with gratitude.
He became a cheerful giver.
We do not need to wait until we have much before we give.
We can give even when we have little.
We can give even when it feels difficult.
We can give even when no one is watching.
Because God is not looking at the amount.
He is looking at our hearts.
And in that moment, I realized something as a mother.
Children do not just learn from what we say.
They learn from what we live.
That same week, I read this verse:
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
John 7:37-38
As I sat with this verse, I could not help but connect it with what I had just witnessed in our home.
Jesus speaks of thirst.
A deep thirst that nothing in this world can truly satisfy.
And then He offers Himself as the source of living water.
Not just water that fills for a moment, but water that continues to flow. Water that overflows.
When We Are Filled, We Overflow
This is what touched me deeply.
Jesus does not just promise to satisfy us.
He promises that from within us, rivers of living water will flow.
That means His love does not stop with us.
His grace does not end with us.
His blessings are not meant to be kept for ourselves.
They are meant to overflow.
And that overflow is what we call generosity.
Generosity Is More Than Money
Many people think that generosity is about money.
But as we have seen in our own lives, generosity is so much more than that.
It is giving your time to someone who needs to talk.
It is showing patience when you feel tired.
It is extending grace when someone has hurt you.
It is serving quietly without expecting anything in return.
It is making others feel seen, loved, and valued.
Here in Cambodia, we see this every day.
We meet students who are far from home.
We encounter families who are going through struggles.
We see young people searching for purpose and belonging.
And often, what they need is not material things.
They need someone to care.
Someone to listen.
Someone to remind them that they are not alone.
Living This Out as a Family
As a family serving here, we have learned that generosity is a daily choice.
It is choosing to open our home.
It is choosing to give our time even when we feel busy.
It is choosing to be patient with our son, especially on challenging days.
It is choosing to love people where they are.
It is not always easy.
There are days when we feel tired.
There are moments when we want to keep things for ourselves.
There are times when giving feels inconvenient.
But every time we remember the living water that Christ has given us, we are reminded.
We have more than enough to give.
Six Reflections and Practical Ways to Live a Generous Life
Here are some simple reflections and ways we can live this out in our daily lives, especially as families raising children.
1. Start with What You Have
Start with what is in your hands today.
It may be your time.
It may be your attention.
It may be a small act of kindness.
Call to reflect:
What is something small I can give today that can bless someone else?
2. Teach Generosity by Example
Let them see you give.
Let them see you serve.
Let them see you forgive.
Call to reflect:
What kind of example am I setting for my children when it comes to giving?
3. Give Even When It Feels Difficult
When you are tired.
When you feel you do not have enough.
When you feel unappreciated.
But those are often the moments that shape our hearts the most.
Call to reflect:
When was the last time I chose to give even when it was not easy?
4. Be Generous with Grace and Patience
It is grace.
It is patience.
It is understanding.
Call to reflect:
Is there someone in my life right now who needs my patience more than my reaction?
5. Serve Where God Has Placed You
Your home is your first mission field.
Your workplace is your place of influence.
Your community is where God can use you.
Call to reflect:
How can I be a blessing in the place where God has placed me today?
6. Remember the Source of Everything
When we remember this, it becomes easier to give.
Because we know we are not losing anything.
We are simply sharing what was given to us.
Call to reflect:
Do I truly believe that God is my provider in every area of my life?
As I reflect on David’s journey, I realize that generosity is not something we master overnight.
It is shaped through small decisions.
Through daily habits.
Through moments of surrender.
And most of all, it is rooted in our relationship with Christ.
Because only when we are filled by Him can we truly overflow to others.
If you are a parent reading this, I want to encourage you.
Your small efforts matter.
The simple things you do today are shaping your children’s hearts for tomorrow.
If you are serving, keep going.
If you are giving, keep giving.
If you feel tired, remember that God sees every act done in love.
And if you feel empty, come back to Jesus.
He is the source of living water.
He will fill you again.
Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for being the source of our life.
Thank You for the living water that satisfies our deepest needs.
Teach us to come to You daily.
Teach us to trust You fully.
Teach us to be filled by Your love.
Help us to have hearts that are generous.
Not just in what we give, but in how we live.
Teach us to give our time, our patience, our kindness, and our love.
Teach us to serve without expecting anything in return.
Lord, I lift up every family reading this.
May their homes be filled with love and grace.
May their children grow up with hearts that seek You.
May they learn to give not out of obligation, but out of joy.
Help us to reflect Your heart in everything we do.
So that others may see You through us.
And when we feel empty, remind us to come back to You.
To drink from the living water that never runs dry.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
The Hourngs in Cambodia 👪🙏💞
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