Late in the day, his uncle stopped by and Nicholas showed him the letter. His uncle read it and only gave him a cold stare.
Finally, Nicholas blurted out, “My heart is breaking! Have you nothing to say?”
His uncle replied, “Yes... You stand in silence while others call out the name of Christus to the very end. You said you are prepared to make the sacrifice? Do something. Take a stand. Speak up for his name.”
“I have been!”
“How?”
Nicholas hesitated. He had kept his giving a secret for so long, but it no longer mattered to him. He said, “The secret benefactor who gives gifts in the name of Christus... It’s me.”
His uncle’s mouth dropped open in shock. He gazed into Nicholas’ eyes to confirm it. He said, “Yes... Of course...” He paused to give it some thought, then said, “You do well to give in his name. And you do well to give in secret so that your praise is not from men, but from your Father in heaven... But you must also let your light shine before men. Hide your gifts, but do not hide your faith.”
“I promise,” said Nicholas. “I just don’t know where to begin.”
His uncle nodded. He said, “He will make it clear to you.”
Finally, Nicholas blurted out, “My heart is breaking! Have you nothing to say?”
His uncle replied, “Yes... You stand in silence while others call out the name of Christus to the very end. You said you are prepared to make the sacrifice? Do something. Take a stand. Speak up for his name.”
“I have been!”
“How?”
Nicholas hesitated. He had kept his giving a secret for so long, but it no longer mattered to him. He said, “The secret benefactor who gives gifts in the name of Christus... It’s me.”
His uncle’s mouth dropped open in shock. He gazed into Nicholas’ eyes to confirm it. He said, “Yes... Of course...” He paused to give it some thought, then said, “You do well to give in his name. And you do well to give in secret so that your praise is not from men, but from your Father in heaven... But you must also let your light shine before men. Hide your gifts, but do not hide your faith.”
“I promise,” said Nicholas. “I just don’t know where to begin.”
His uncle nodded. He said, “He will make it clear to you.”
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