Giving is living
John Bunyan said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
What have you done today to better someone else’s day? Did you buy someone’s gas? Donate clothes to your local charity? Only ate half a tub of your roommate’s ice cream? Big or small it still makes a difference no matter who you are or what you do. Giving opens the door for a person to receive. Why? Here’s why: though you might not get back what you put in, you will receive ten times as much love and gratitude that comes with giving. I am a strong believer in paying it forward, I was in the position where I reached out to people to help me gain my feet after I fell, or I needed a hand in a certain area where I was lacking and somebody came through. Now I would like to give back and give somebody else a hand and pick them up from their fall.
St. Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that we receive.”
But do you actually believe that? It isn’t until we actually experience the true joy of giving that we believe giving is actually that, a joy. I don’t know about you but seeing a person smile makes me smile, it’s contagious. It’s impossible to look at another smiling person and say “Well they are having a terrible day.” No we don’t say that, rather we are attracted to that person and want to smile at what they are smiling at or laugh why their laughing. Laughter, smiles and joy are just so easy to spread, and one of the easiest ways to get yourself to smile is to make somebody else smile.
When it comes to giving most people think it means money, like giving your money to a charity or to a church program. Yeah giving your money is a part of living a generous life but giving can be so much more than that.
“Money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.”― Steve Goodier
My siblings and I used to host the classic lemonade stands outside our house on scorching hot summer days. We went through the whole process of getting the cups and making the gallons of lemonade, and making the sign and setting up the table, all for just a few bucks worth of quarters. As a kid a quarter was kind of a lot, because if you had four of them you had a dollar, and if you had a dollar, holy cow you were flippin rich! One time we were going about the regular sitting and yelling at the top of our lungs at every car that drove by when one guy stopped and bought a glass of lemonade that costed only one quarter and paid one dollar and said these famous words “Keep the change” We were pumped, no more clankity quarters we had a dollar! Paper money! We were jaw dropped and then ecstatic and jumping around. We were rich! What we didn’t really care to notice was the ear to ear grin that man had on his face as he walked away. He might have lost 75 cents but the joy of seeing a couple 5 year olds lose their minds over those 75 cents was all worth it.
If you don’t have money, give your time, love, service, heck give a smile. There is always something to give and the amount is NEVER too little. So give and watch your life turn around. But your attitude should not be “I’m going to give this thing to this person because I know I will get something in return.” First off if that’s your attitude then your generosity is void because you are doing it out of selfish ambition. It says “give and it shall be given to you” In Luke 6:38 in the Bible. Same story here, you will receive no blessing for the blessing you give for the blessing you gave was only set out for your own blessing in return.
So just give, whatever you have, because no matter how big or small, it still makes a difference. Give out of love and joy. Give someone a smile or a big fat check to send that kid to college or get that struggling family out of bankruptcy. The point is your giving will not go unnoticed and you will reap what you sow. So go sow a bountiful harvest and give out of the joyous love in your heart. Trust me, people will catch on and follow your lead. To make a difference you have to be the difference. Go give and live.
Go ahead and share this with your most giving friend/family member, show them some love and then go do something for them that’s out of the ordinary.