Gaby's Generous Heart

There were three instances this holiday season that showed Gaby's amazing heart.

The first was when we were picking toys from her collection to add to our Christmas Shoe Box donation. Gaby gave a pink Barbie doll, but this wasn't her first choice. The first toy she chose to give away was an expensive, ornate Barbie doll with butterfly wings which she had wished for the longest time. But I stopped her, and said that she might want to keep it for her sisters to play with when they're older, and the doll was an expensive gift from her godmother. So Gaby settled on giving a simpler Barbie doll which she received last year.

The second instance was during the Christmas Party held for students in our homeschool community. After the exchanging of gifts game, Gaby went up to her Papa empty handed. She explained that her friend complained that she didn't like the gift she got. So my daughter gave her gift to her friend.

The third instance was when we watched a concert by the new guy from Glee, Darren Criss. Best known for his cover of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" in the hit show, the half-Filipino was in Trinoma for a mall show a few weeks ago. But Gaby knows Darren Criss from watching the popular YouTube videos "A Very Musical Potter," in which he starred as Harry Potter in the musical parody. During our meet and greet, I asked Darren if he could pose with Gaby's Gryffindor scarf. He gamely agreed, and I was later surprised to see Gaby give Darren her scarf.

Now I know some people would shake their heads and raise their eyebrows at Gaby's actions, and I must confess I did too. I mean, come on...

• Giving away an expensive Barbie doll? She can give another doll that is of lesser value, but still in good working condition.
• Giving her Christmas gift away? Her friend must be a spoiled brat not to appreciate what she got. Why take someone else's gift?
• Giving away a scarf that you can't get here in the Phils? Especially to someone you just met for one minute, lives halfway across the world, will probably won't remember you later on, and most likely has the same scarf you gave? 

Here are some words that echoed in my head after each incident: 

"Di nag-isip ng mabuti. Na-uto siya. Sayang lang."

So what was Gaby thinking when she did all those?  

To this, she has a simple answer: "Because I wanted to."

"But why?" I asked.

"Because it made me happy," she said.

IT MADE HER HAPPY TO GIVE.

My 7 year old daughter's heart swelled with happiness when she gave her Christmas present.

IT MADE HER HAPPY TO MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY.

Even if it means giving something that she valued in order to put a smile on someone's face.

I realized that what bothered me about Gaby's actions wasn't the naivete of her young mind, but rather my selfish nature to keep what's best for myself. Gaby gave what she had without expecting something in return. 

A lot of people may scoff at these instances as actions of an innocent child, and expect the parents to teach their child how to value their things. But the Bible says to give generously, sacrificially. Should I really hinder my child's giving heart? Especially during this holiday season where gifts are weighed by their price tag, giving something sacrificially is seen as ridiculous.

Deuteronomy 15:10 (NIV)

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

I am truly humbled by my daughter's actions, and it has taught me to see the world just like she does -- with childlike faith. And because of her actions, we proudly gave Gaby her Christmas present a few days early -- she finally has a cellphone of her own :)