Leviticus 23:22 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your filed, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord your God.”

Generosity does not come easily to some.  Kids struggle with it on the very basic level.  They cling to their toys and will “fight to the death” to keep it.  I see it with my own kids and I see with their friends.  As we grow and learn to share we realize that it makes our hearts feel good to share with someone else.  Seeing the gratitude on someone’s face eases our desire to hoard.  I don’t personally know very many people who actually harvest fields but the principle in this verse still holds true.  We have been blessed beyond words and whatever we have received in blessing, we are called to share first with God and then with our neighbor.  The verse uses the words poor and alien but I believe this is synonymous with our neighbor in today’s world.  As we prepare to plant gardens, receive another paycheck in the bank or prepare our evening meal, let us remember to share. 

Lord,

Thank you for the blessings you have given to us in such abundance.  Help us see and remember those who have less or none and compel us to reach out in love and share.  Open our hearts and our hands to receive the blessings of generosity by being generous to others.  Amen.