Dan Tan Music Blog

I’ve been tutoring lately at a group home for teenage girls, and have gotten to know the staff and the girls well. My Valentine’s Day evening was spent at the group home.

I was given Valentine’s candy from one of the girls, which I initially refused until she insisted. The more I think about it, the more I’m humbled by her generosity. Candy is not a regular staple of their diet there, and is normally reserved for special occasions, or “purchased” with “privilege points” they earn for reaching their goals. She didn’t just give me a single piece, she gave me the WHOLE bag of candy she’d gotten for Valentine’s Day. I feel like I should give it back, now that I realize the high personal cost of her gift.

Are you familiar with the story of the widow’s mite?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2021:1-4;&version=31

1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Wow, now that I think about it, that little bag of candy has become a much more significant gift to me. It represents a spirit of enormous generosity, and a gift that is far more valuable to the giver than to the receiver. She can’t just go get another bag of candy, she has to wait for another special occasion when she receives it as a gift, or use up her very limited supply of “privilege points”. Whoa.

Had I thought about all this last night, I probably would not have accepted the gift. But since I already have, it’s a small bag of candy in a sandwich bag that I will cherish for a long time.

And that’s the best Valentine’s Day gift I’ve ever received.