Generosity

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” Matthew 20:1-16

I spoke with my 90 year old Mom this morning. She was cheerful and happy to have some family in the house. My sister in law, brother and aunt were getting the turkey and all the fixing together in her kitchen. She promised me she was behaving herself and staying out of the way. She was a fabulous cook in the day and it must be hard for her to step aside. But she laughs and delights in having folks with her, grateful for what she has today. It is more than enough, she told me. And it is. Some seasons, we w have a huge crowd and full pockets, and other times we will labor long and the feast will be simple and small.

God blesses us as we rejoice in the generosity we have received. Not looking back and sighing, nor looking ahead and wishing, but being tight here, right now, reveling in our many blessings. And they are many. We have more than enough and warm shelter. We can talk freely to those we love and gather with friends who make us welcome. God knows us and see us in the back of the line.
May we hear God's invitation to generosity and kindness this day. May we not worry about what we will get but what we can give.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

O God who treasures the giggles of children and the sweet hugs we give one another, let us rejoice in the many small blessings that surround us today. May we be quick with love and laughter and never have a harsh word or a selfish thought. May we outdo ourselves with kindness, knowing we have been blessed beyond measure this day and always. Amen