What Is It in Here?

Dr. Henry Cloud tells the story of his daughter Olivia learning a powerful lesson with cookies. It seems that he and young Olivia had been talking about sharing. Dr. Cloud said, “I have an idea—today, at school I want you to find someone and share something with them, and then tonight, we can talk about it.”

Later that day when he asked Olivia how the sharing had gone, she told him how at snack time she, having 2 cookies, saw a little girl with none. She said, “I walked over to her table and gave her one of mine.”

“That’s awesome! How did it go?” asked Dr. Cloud.

Little Olivia’s response was precious. “Daddy, what is it?” Not knowing what she meant, he pressed her to explain. As she pointed to her chest, Olivia said, “In here? What is it in here? When I gave her the cookie it felt warm in here.”

Olivia was experiencing what those who live the giving life know well—the deep-down joy and love of being a person of generosity.

The promise to the generous goes far beyond that warm feeling. To those who choose to live generously, Paul says, they “take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:19)