Barnhouse - Gives a Gift to His Mother

Donald Grey Barnhouse writes: After the first world war, I traveled extensively in Europe, and I often sent gifts to my mother-a bit of lace from Brussels, a marble vase from Rome, and so on. Suppose I had written to her, “I am sending you these gifts so that you will love me.” My Irish mother would have answered sharply that she loved me before I was born, that her love for me did not increase or diminish by the gifts I sent. But I did tell her that I sent her the gifts because I loved her. This heightened her joy and increased my own. This is true Christian giving. We give because we have received all things from Christ, and we are moved by the love of Christ to do for others as He has done for us. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #4217).