Giving like a Child

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit my nephew, Peyton, for his fourth birthday. We went to church with him and when it came time for the collection plate to be passed(seperate and apart from communion, of course) he proudly put his change in. When I say "his change" of course I mean what he was given by his parents or grandparents, it was not really his money. It wasn't really his to give, but he gave freely and proudly. He did not earn it, or work for it, he doesn't even grasp the complete concept of money yet. It didn't seem fair that he should such satisfaction in an offering that wasn't really his to give.
This got me thinking about how we sometimes look at our christianity and our salvation. As hard as I try, I cannot earn my salvation. I am like a little child, dependent upon my Father to pay the price for me. I sometimes think my good deeds are mine to give and that by doing these things I somehow am saving my spot or furthering my reward. The Lord has given us everything, our talents, our health, our families, our opportunities, and we are called to use these given gifts as a way of giving back to our Lord and his Kingdom. May we offer our borrowed lives as an offering to him as a little child would give of his Father's money, willingly and with an overwhelming excitement.