Ten percent?

Mt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Is our "tithe" limited to the physical things we have? Things; money, homes, food, possessions. They have value and to share them is not just "good" but love being showed.

This verse seems to say that to show the love that has been given to us that we should tithe of our "things" AND our hearts. When I am angry if I could think to "tithe" forgiveness wouldn't I then give up the anger at another and isn't that a tithe of love?

When someone wrongs me and I can think to tithe "mercy", that I have been given in such abundance, wouldn't I give up the hurt and make peace?

I had already come to the conclusion that we should tithe of our talents as well as our resources. Tithing time, transportation, skills - I understood that. But tithing of our feelings and judgements - that's a new thought.

Many times I have thought the truth of my feelings was trash I was handing to the Divine Loving Being - but he sees the truth as beautiful, whatever it is in my judgement. If I could be willing to give up a tithe, say ten percent, of my hurt, anger and frustrations with life, wouldn't it be improving my life?

And if he returns what you tithe to him ten fold then wouldn't I have more ability to forgive, offer mercy, pass on kindness, not hurts?

I don't know. When I don't know I say, "There's two ways to find out; Ask someone who knows or try it and see." I'm guessing on this one I'll be trying it to see.

I'll tithe of my feelings. If I am angry I will reach for forgiveness to give instead of more hurt to another. If I am sad I will reach for a small part of joy to share - not sadness. I will give up the self pity for a bit of thankfulness and share that with others. Then I will see what happens next.

I know I haven't said this well. The words are deceptive. I have tithed of my income and my possesions. Now I'm going to add to it. I will tithe of kindness, forgiveness and mercy instead of passing on anger, pain and sadness. It makes sense to me. It's the way I see it today.