The widow who owned our cottage before us (let’s call her Jane) was extremely generous. In our negotiations before the sale, she asked permission through her realtor to leave a few things in the house when she moved out. We agreed, and she sent a typed list.

A few days later, our realtor gave us a second list, and eventually a third. We were glad to have what she didn’t want and said yes to all of it.

When we took possession of the house, we found out how enormous her generosity had been. She left towels, sheets, bedspreads, pillows, blankets, dishes, glasses, flatware, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, an electric mixer, a crock pot, a toaster, and a blender. We also found cleaning products, paper goods, and office supplies.

In the basement were tools, everything from vices to drills to saws and hammers, along with nails, screws, nuts, bolts and 3 levels. She left gardening gloves, clay pots, clippers and trowels, as well as brooms, mops, rakes, and snow shovels. There were beach towels and sand toys, snow toys and sleds. She even left a grill with charcoal and lighter fluid. And she walked away from all her furniture, including several valuable antiques and a spinet piano, complete with a set of hymnals.

Nate and I were stunned. Our plan had been to fill the house with garage-sale finds, a process that would have taken years of hunting. Through the realtors we offered to pay Jane, but she wouldn’t hear of it. We asked to thank her in person, but she declined.

After we moved in, we had a year of fun surprises, new finds tucked here and there, testifying to one woman’s extreme generosity.

What causes someone to bless others with such extravagance when there’s nothing in it for her? Many of us are willing to give generously if our name goes on a brick, is announced over a P.A., or is posted on a list, but what about just giving to give? Are we good at that?

Most of what God does for us is giving just to give. He does it around the clock, whether we thank him or not, because he fervently loves us. For our part, we’re often guilty of loving ourselves with such intensity we don’t notice what he’s doing for us day-in and day-out. Instead we categorize his gifts under “I-earned-it” or “I-deserved-it.” What a disservice to the Lord, since he’s worthy of full credit for everything he gives. Sometimes we even neglect crediting him for his most generous gift, the saving of our souls.

Jane was a powerful example to our family, and Nate’s and my thank you note sent through her realtor didn’t seem like enough. But God took care of that. He told the whole world how much he really loves “cheerful giver Jane.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

“It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Corinthians 10:18)