The Star Money

A poor orphan girl, having lost both parents and every possession she had, owned nothing in the world but the clothes she wore and a small piece of bread, and set out alone into the wide world trusting only in God's kindness.

Along her way, she met a hungry man who begged for food, and she gave him her only piece of bread without hesitation. Further on, she met a child crying from the cold and gave away her cap. She continued meeting those in need — one wanting a jacket, another a skirt, another a shirt — and gave away every single garment she owned, one after another, until she stood in the dark forest wearing nothing at all, having kept absolutely nothing for herself.

Just as she stood shivering and alone, stars began falling from the night sky around her, each one landing gently and turning into a silver coin the moment it touched the ground. Before long, she was surrounded by more silver than she could ever carry, and found, laid neatly beside her, a fine linen shirt to wear — her boundless generosity, given without a single thought of what she might lack, having been repaid many times over by the heavens themselves.