Every day, Glen purchases his morning coffee at a nearby drive-through. Every day he also pays for the order of the person in the car behind him, asking the cashier to wish that person a good day. Glen has no connection to them. He's not aware of their reactions; he simply believes this small gesture is "the least he can do". On one occasion, however, he learned of the impact of his actions when he read an anonymous letter to the editor of his local newspaper. He discovered that the kindness of his gift caused the person in the car behind him to reconsider their plans to take their own life later that day. Glen gives daily to the people in the car behind him without receiving credit for it. Only on this single occasion did he get a glimpse of the impact of his small gift. When Jesus says we should "not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:3), He's urging us to give, as Glen does, without need for recognition.

When we give out of our love for God, without concern for receiving praise of others, we can trust that our gifts, large or small, will be used by Him to help meet the need of those receiving them. (Credit: Kirsten Holmberg)

Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:4)