Hans Springer, vice president for direct response in The LCMS Foundation, has contributed to the giving stories before. This time he shares his own translation of a German poem about gift-giving, by Joachim Ringelnatz.
Give from the heart and freely
give with it that which is inside of youSo that your own joy
such as opinion, taste and humor
will richly reward you, prior to the giving.Give little or big
but always genuinely, purely;When the recipient considers the gift
let your conscience be clear.Give soulfully, without cunning
be aware
that your gift
is you, yourself.