Here's the facts:
Rene did a kindness to a fellow human, good for her!
Charitable giving is a Christian requirement.
She practiced the Golden Rule.
It is a fact that every Christian is in a state, not of stagnancy, but of growth, endeavoring to be more like our master, Christ.
Each is on an individual path towards spiritual growth.
That is where the dispute on this thread originates.
In regards to this dispute:
Matthew 6:2 and Matthew 7:1-5 must neccesarily be read in context, they are not contradictory by any means.
Matthew 6:1-4 (in context):
1"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2So whenever you give to the poor, don't blow a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be praised by people. I tell you with certainty, they have their full reward! 3But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
People's New Testament:
6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms. This is the first example. The wrong way, that of the hypocrites, is described. The Greek word rendered hypocrite means a theatrical actor, one who is not real, but acts a part. Their method was to give ostentatiously. In our age the world rings with the praises of the millionaire who gives a few thousands, but is silent concerning the humble ones who have taken from their necessities and given to the same cause.
Do not sound a trumpet before thee.
This seems to be a proverbial expression to denote the making of a thing publicly known.
The meaning is,when you give to the poor, do not make a show of it.Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
6:1-4 Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. What we do, must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised of men. In these verses we are cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. Take heed of it. It is a subtle sin; and vain-glory creeps into what we do, before we are aware. But the duty is not the less necessary and excellent for being abused by hypocrites to serve their pride. The doom Christ passes, at first may seem a promise, but it is their reward; not the reward God promises to those who do good, but the reward hypocrites promise themselves, and a poor reward it is; they did it to be seen of men, and they are seen of men. When we take least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them. He will reward thee; not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his son that serves him.
Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV):
1"Stop judging, so that you won't be judged, 2because the way that you judge others will be the way that you will be judged, and you will be evaluated by the standard with which you evaluate others. 3"Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when the beam is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
So, reading the above Scriptures and commentary clarifies the matter.
It is correct to give freely, it then behooves us to "not let our right hand know what our left is doing", not making the gift publicly known, not telling anyone, as God has seen our gifts of mercy, and will reward us without our telling anyone else about it.
I know that if you even tell ONE person of such an act, it will spread like wildfire, so better not to tell anyone.
After all, our heavenly Father sees what we do, and it strengthens our faith when we allow Him to reward us for our faith, rather that seeking the rewards of other human's praise.
That is the point to be made of the Scriptures being quoted thus far on this thread.
BA- Clarifying.
