Extravagance

Every Wednesday evening (barring Divine intervention)

we travel through the dusky sunset to our church

to participate in mid-week programs for children.

For several years now I have been assisting

in different age groups of our Master Club program.

This year, I'm a helper in the 2nd grade class.

As we work our way through their books, we always 

come to project that is required to earn the "Good Servant Badge."

As a part of this project, each child is required to earn some money

at home and bring in a minimum of $1 to give as a missionary offering

to help an overseas or home missionary.

One dollar.

Sometimes it takes of weeks of sending home reminders

to parents and reminding the children before they come

back with a crumpled up dollar bill or a handful of change.

As leaders, we try all manner of communication to encourage

this to happen sooner, but often it never happens, and in the end

the teacher will contribute the dollar so the child is not refused  their

badge for simply a one dollar project.

Last evening, as I once again reminding a sweet girl who was missing this

one thing to complete her badge requirements, I looked up at another

leader who has been encouraging the children in her group as well.

She looked at me and said, "One of the girls here brought in {as she leaned in

to whisper} one hundred dollars."

I couldn't move.

"Excuse me?"  I gasped.

"Did you say one HUNDRED dollars? One, zero, zero??"

It takes a miracle of God most of the time for any of our children to remember

to bring just one dollar.

But one hundred dollars?

"I had to ask her Mom if that was right,"  my friend said.

"Her Mom said that she {her child} had chosen not to receive any gifts

for Christmas this year, but instead to give her Christmas money

toward the missionary offering.  Her sister did too."

My mind could not wrap around the extravagance of that child.

I called her over to where I was sitting and gave her a big hug and thanked her

for what she did!
I swallowed back tears.

I had heard of stories like this before, but had never really looked into the eyes

of a child who of her own free will decided not to get gifts this year.
To witness the easy willingness to forgo their own pleasure

to encourage someone they didn't really even know.
I had assumed she asked the money to go toward some missionary children

but no.

She hand picked a couple special to her and gave what was coming to her.....

to them.

Well, that pretty much made my Christmas.

I totally did not see that coming.

A tiny child so willing {and somewhat surprised at my reaction} to give

so much for someone else.

But what a precious picture of God's love for us.

"God so loved the world....

that He gave."

And with what extravagance.

No holding back.

Extravagant love.

Extravagant mercy.

Extravagant grace.

Jesus "Who thought it not robbery to be equal with God,

made Himself of no reputation,

took upon himself the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of man." 

To die for us.

To be the answer to every problem we have created for ourselves.

I think of Mary Magdalene who was forgiven so much

and in an effort to mirror her gratitude

poured out an extravagant fragrance to use to wash the feet of Jesus.

She was accused of being irresponsible for such extravagance.

Yet, she got it.

Mary understood that His love and mercy and forgiveness

will always trump what little we can do to try to thank Him.

I love that Christmas is a beautiful time to reflect the extravagant love

of God to send His Son to us, for us.

That we can truly experience the joy of His presence (presents.)

Emmanuel ~ God with us.

How can we not give to those who need special encouragement

or a helping hand?

When we have been given so much.