In conducting a stewardship effort, parish leaders will find that parishioners will be more apt to share their gifts because of the blessings they have received than because of the needs of the parish budget or the need for volunteers. When people are motivated to give out of a feeling of gratitude rather than guilt, recognition, reward, need, or sacrifice, they begin to give the gift that God wants them to give—the gift of themselves. In doing so, they will experience the joy that accompanies this giving.