I get a lot of junk mail. It’s very annoying. Almost all the mail I get is junk, in fact. And most of the junk comes from nonprofit organizations or charities. Some of them are thank you notes for a donation, but most of them are pleas for more money for this or that cause.

It seems the more money I give to causes I support, the more junk mail I get. It leads me to believe that the charities to which I donate turn around and sell their mailing list to other charities.

I don’t want all this junk mail. It’s a shameful waste of paper and resources. I don’t even want the legitimate thank you notes because they often come with an enclosed request for even more money.

I don’t need recognition or mailed gratitude from my donees because I know that God sees my generosity. He recognizes and appreciates every penny I spend to help people who are hungry or homeless or desperate, lonely, and lost.

“Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender.” (Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭17,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God won’t send me junk mail in response to my generosity. He rewards me instead with beautiful and unexpected blessings in this life and promises for the next.

Now, if only I could stop that flood of junk mail.

Dear God,

Thank you for allowing me to participate in your love and care for the poor and needy. And thank you for noticing and rewarding me when I do. Forgive me for the times when I am not generous or when I give grudgingly. Fill me with joy to share what you’ve given me.