梅蘭朝著購物中心的出口走去，突然櫥窗裡展示的一件粉紅大衣吸引了她的目光。她看著這件棉花糖色的大衣，心裡想著：荷莉一定會喜歡！荷莉是梅蘭的同事，她是個單親媽媽，手頭一向不寬裕。梅蘭知道荷莉需要一件保暖大衣，也很肯定荷莉絕對捨不得為自己花這個錢。在片刻猶豫後，梅蘭笑了笑，掏出錢包買下大衣，並請店員將這件大衣寄送到荷莉的家。她還附上一張匿名的卡片，上面寫著：「耶穌愛妳！」最後，梅蘭滿心喜樂地駕車離開購物中心。

當我們順服上帝放在你我心中的感動，甘心為人付出時，就會帶來喜樂。使徒保羅教導哥林多的信徒，在準備要為別人付出時，「各人要隨本心所酌定的，不要作難，不要勉強，因為捐得樂意的人是上帝所喜愛的」（哥林多後書9章7節）。先前，保羅也提到：「少種的少收，多種的多收。」（6節）

有時候，我們會將金錢放入奉獻箱，或透過網路奉獻支持有意義的事工。有時候，上帝也會感動我們以行動來回應某位朋友的需要，具體地向人表達祂的愛。我們可以積極地向人展現上帝的愛，無論是給予一包日常用品、一袋食品，甚或是作為禮物的一件粉紅大衣。

Brenda was walking toward the mall exit when a flush of pink from a display window caught her eye. She turned and stood spellbound before a “cotton-candy-colored coat.” Oh, how Holly would love it! Finances had been tight for her coworker friend who was a single mother, and while Brenda knew Holly needed a warm coat, she was also confident that her friend would never lay down cash on such a purchase for herself. After wavering ever so slightly, Brenda smiled, reached for her wallet, and arranged for the coat to be shipped to Holly’s home. She added an anonymous card, “You are so very loved.” Brenda practically danced to her car.

Joy is a by-product of God-nudged giving. As Paul instructed the Corinthians in the art of generosity, he said, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). He also noted, “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (v. 6).

Sometimes we slip cash into the offering plate. At other times we donate online to a worthy ministry. And then there are moments when God leads us to respond to the need of a friend with a tangible expression of His love. We offer a bag of groceries, a tank of gas . . . or even the gift of a perfectly pink coat.