A Life Well-Lived, part 5; "I'm a giver!"

We continue to discover Timothy’s donation receipts for even more ministries (Children’s Home in Mexico, International Schools, etc.), and we continue to hear more stories of how his generosity sent friends on mission trips, funded vehicles, and subsidized flight lessons. He kept his eyes and ears open to notice the needs of others and his hands open to give.

I remember when he was maybe 9 years old, he excitedly shared with me, “At the first of the year, I had $60.00, and I decided I was going to give it all away. Now, at the end of the year, I have $120.00!” He learned early that we can’t out-give God.

A few years ago, for Christmas, instead of giving everyone a gift, Timothy announced that he had given a sum of money to Samaritan’s Purse to continue the work in Alaska. Through tears, he described the impact of being present when a displaced family was presented with a new home (that he had worked on), along with a Bible (that he and the crew had signed). He knew the background of the family and the effect of the gift; and with a rare display of emotion, he confidently declared, “I know this will bring the whole family to the Lord.” He also assured us that he believed this donation would come back to all of us, many times over.

Back in the day (before cell phones and Youtube), I kept a cassette player in the hallway. Every night, after the kids were tucked in bed, I would play a tape of the Bible, a sermon, or hymns, so both bedrooms could listen as they went to sleep. I remember one sermon in particular, entitled “Giver or Taker?” The preacher asked the rhetorical question, “Are you a giver - or are you a taker?” In reply, a squeaky 3-year-old Timothy happily shouted from his bunk bed, “I’m a giver!”

Perhaps this had some influence on yet another journal entry that was penned when he was 17 (written here without his strikeouts, for clarity):

“I realize that when I die, I can’t take anything I own with me. The only thing that really matters is whether or not I am able to show Christ to others. I intend to seek God’s kingdom first, and do whatever my hand finds to do with all my might.”

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

“Give and it shall be given unto you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over…” Luke 6:38