The verse anchor
“But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret.”
Matthew 6:3-4 · King James Bible
The story
In a town by the sea long, long ago, there lived a good man named Nicholas. He was a Christian, and he loved Jesus, and he had a great deal of money that his parents had left him when they died.
One night, Nicholas heard about a very poor family down the street. The father had three daughters, and there was no dowry for them, no way to give them a good beginning in life. The father was crying by his fire.
Nicholas did not knock on the door. He did not want to be praised. He took a small bag of gold — heavy, round, gold coins — and quietly, quietly, he tossed it through the open window at night. It landed with a soft thump inside the house. The father found it in the morning and wept for joy.
The next night, Nicholas came back. Another bag of gold. Another quiet thump. Another morning of joy.
On the third night, the father was watching, and he saw Nicholas' hand. He ran outside and caught him and knelt down and thanked him with tears. Nicholas begged him, "Please, tell nobody. Tell only God."
But the story got out anyway, as good stories always do. And that is why, wherever Christian children hang stockings by the fire, we remember Nicholas — who gave in secret, so that only God would clap.
Memory verse
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35 · KJV
Say it three times before bed. In seven days you will know it forever.
A prayer
Jesus, make me a giver like Nicholas.
Help me to be kind when nobody sees.
Amen.