One of the members of my congregation works at J.C. Penney, where he noticed these huge Teddy bears on sale. But at the end of the sale, there were a bunch left over. This member then watched the price drop and drop. When it hit bottom he bought the last three and brought them to me to give to children as I thought appropriate. Now the member is very thoughtful, indeed, but our story of generosity is just beginning here.

To distribute the bears, I waited for there to be just three little ones at our at our free lunch program on Sundays. But week after week there always seemed to be more than three, and I didn’t want any child to be left out.

Then one Sunday I was sitting in my office talking to a woman who showed up at the free lunch but then had another need to be taken care of. To distract her young daughter white I was chatting to her mom, I handed her the bag of bears. The three animals together were bigger than the girl. I said, "Why don't you take one and see if there are any other children downstairs to give the other two to.”

I thought it was a safe move. When I had left the gathering, there was a smaller than usual crowd, so I didn’t think any child would be left out. But I got an unexpected surprise, a gift for no holiday.

I really didn’t hear much about it that day. One mother thanked me for the bear for her daughter, so I told her who they came from.

Then during Wednesday night supper at the church, I watched one little six-year-old member hand this huge bear to another little six-year-old girl who was to be baptized that Saturday. Turns out, there had been four little gills at the lunch that Sunday. But rather than one girl facing disappointment, these two had worked it out so that they would share the third bear. No adults were involved.

“It’s your turn to take it home," the first girl said to the other. Maybe it is extra nice that they hadn't known each other well. That first girl was a longtime member and the other had just started coming.

Now the gesture wasn’t something done easily because the bear meant nothing to her. Quite to the contrary, her grandmother had invited me on Monday to see how the little girl had carefully belted her new ursine friend, “Mr. Bear” into the back seat of the car. 

The arrangement has continued splendidly. I have been watching the passing of the bear for a few weeks now, and no custody disputes have arisen that I know of. Both girls have with loving care presented the huge stuffed animal to the other with love and a big smile.

We talk a lot about teaching children to share and be generous. People are always asking me how to teach stewardship to children.

Perhaps we need to learn stewardship from children. This is what it’s all about. Taking loving care of what we have been given and then sharing it joyfully.  

Lord, everything is a gift. May we receive with joy, care for what we are given and share it all. Amen.