There was once a wealthy woman who was known for her miserly ways. Each time she gave to the offering at church, she only dropped a few coins into the box.
One night, she had a vivid dream. In her dream, she passed away and was taken up to heaven. As she arrived, she was amazed to see many grand and beautiful mansions lining the streets. Intrigued and excited, she asked the angel guiding her to show her to her own mansion.
As they walked, the woman’s anticipation grew. Suddenly, she saw her maid coming out of one of the most magnificent mansions she had ever seen. The maid greeted her warmly, and seeing the grand size of her maid’s mansion, the woman’s expectations soared. “If my maid has been given such a splendid home, imagine the mansion that awaits me,” she thought to herself.
Finally, after walking a bit further, the angel stopped and pointed to a small, humble hut made of straw and sticks. “This is your mansion,” the angel said.
The woman was stunned and became furious. “How can this be?” she shouted. “If my maid has such a grand mansion, why do I only get this hut?”
The angel calmly replied, “This is all we could build with the few coins you offered.”
The woman awoke from her dream with a start. Deeply moved by the message, she resolved from that day forward to be generous with her offerings, understanding that true wealth in heaven is measured by the generous heart.