Give Till It Hurts?

Tomorrow I will go for the CROP Walk. 

Try as I might, I can never remember what CROP stands for.  I only know the Lutheran Church sponsors it, gives twenty five per cent of the money raised to the county who raised it, the rest going to disaster areas and the poor around the world.  Our dollars will feed how many?

Imagine that--the little bit of money I was pledged will go to feed a child in my city, my country, maybe in the world.  I'm not helping much, but I am doing something, and so is everyone else who is walking.

Our church put together school kits with notebooks and rulers, and health kits with soap and towels and more. Other churches did sewing kits and infant layettes. each package wasn't much in itself, but each one was a gift of love to the unknown someone who received it.  A little here, a little there.  It adds up.  It adds up to tens of thousands of dollars when you consider how big the Lutheran Church is, how vast the ministries and how generous the members and others who come along.

I didn't belong to a church for many years.  Now that I'm back, I have left the selfishness behind.  I want to be a part of all the good things the Church does.  Oh, I know, Church isn't your thing, but even if you aren't a believer my Church would feed you if you were hungry, keep you warm, tell you where to find medicine or housing.  The Church doesn't care if you are a member or a non-believer. We will help.

I will walk a mile tomorrow.  My new church friends will be there, too.  I have another week to raise some more money for the hungry people of the county and the world.  In addition, we will pray over every quarter, that it will be used wisely.

Giving is not a new concept for me, but being part of this group that gives so much without regard to what they get in return--well, now, that's a different story.

Give till it hurts?  What if it never hurt, just keeps on feeling better?