Give, and it Will be Given Back

Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

This is a story of something simple- a water bottle.   If you've been my friend in the past year, you know that I rarely go about without my water bottle.  While in Uruguay, it became a necessity as I walked quite a bit and water fountains are a rarity.   

One day near the end of my stay in Uruguay, I was walking in the old city when I saw two young boys begging for money. (It is not common in Uruguay to see children on the street begging, and after talking to them I learned that they were not homeless.)  I talked to the boys for a few minutes and the younger asked if he could have my water bottle.  The older boy said, "You can't just ask people for their stuff!"  My first instinct was No Way, but then I thought it through.  I had found this particular green water bottle in the MNYBA, and I didn't really own it at all.  I explained to the boy that whatever I have belongs to Jesus, and that I like to share, because He has been so generous with me.  I left the bottle with the kid and headed for home.

I returned to these United States on December 15th.  On Christmas morning I found a water bottle in my stocking.  It was a beautiful water bottle and I hadn't even asked for it.  It's what happens when we give.