Giving: From selfish to generous
Ok, so I need help. Literally.
As mentioned last time, God is pressing on me to be more generous. The problem is I don’t know how. I cannot give financially. I have no time. I tried using my popular blog and want to do that again, but I’m lost.
I want to do something grand and sweeping, but the little things hang me up.
And this is my failing. I know, I know, “don’t let your left hand know what you’re right hand is doing”, but I’m big on asking for help, so I’ve sent out some emails asking how I can help. So will it even count?
I’ve wanted to do this for so long, but greed is stronger than you can imagine. We can’t discount the outside forces either. My husband, a wonderful man, but he does not embrace this philosophy. I guess from his background, holding on tightly is what he believes works.
I believe that holding on tightly is the best way to ensure what you have will slip through your fingers.
I try to convince him and that blows up into an argument, usually in front of the kids, and the person who’s WRONG in those arguments is always me. I turn into a grade-A bitch, and then my quest for generosity ultimately leads to sin.
I stupidly mentioned to someone something I wanted to give to a struggling family (why?? why did I do that??) and this person piped up that they wanted what I was giving, something I know they have and while I talked them out of it, I’m not sure if to be a blessing means I should have just given it to them.
And of course, I discussed it so there goes anonymity.
FEELING STUPID. How can a simple act of blessing someone become so complicated? What kind of creatures are we to struggle so poignantly for stuff we don’t need, while others are desperate for a little generosity?
At CHRISTMAS. Pray for me. As you can tell, I need it!
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There’s many things you can do to live a life of generosity without having to have such grand gestures that cause stress for this around you. Some simple ways you can live generously each day.
1. Try buying lunch/coffee/fast food for the person in line behind you. or the meal for the table two tables over. It’s simple and you never know how many people you will bless. I’ve heard stories of people who were almost suicidal having their coffee paid for anonymously showed them that there was someone who cared and they got help.
2. When you donate clothing to a mission or shelter, tuck a few dollars in a pocket (well in so it’s not stolen) and leave it in the hands of God to make sure the jacket gets to the right person.
3. Buy gift cards to local fast food restaurants and keep them in your purse. When you see someone who needs a meal, you can give them the gift card and know they’ll get a meal.
4. Each time you shop pick up a pack of diapers or canister of formula to drop off at the women’s shelter.
Buy blankets, coats, jeans… One at a time to donate. If you do these kinds of things one at a time you can live generously and make an impact on people’s lives without the battles a really large gift would being. And you’d actually be living generosity daily (and mostly anonymously) instead of a once in awhile like with a large gift.
Baby steps–a generous life is addictive and before you know it your whole family will be outward focused!
thank you! Those are all WONDERFUL ideas! I appreciate you sharing them here. Baby steps, ok, you’re right..that’s the way to do. Have a wonderful holiday!
One of the most valuable things you can give is a random act of kindness. I try to do it everyday.
A smile and a nod to a person in the aisle at the store.
Putting coupons I don’t use on the items at a store.
Saying hello and thank you to clerks at a store.
If you get great customer service make sure you let the manager know about it.
I feel I have been more giving when it’s my time that I give to someone. I think it makes my guardian angel happy.
I do the RAOK so maybe someone will wonder if it’s an angel who brightened their day.
By starting small you will find more ways to be generous and giving.
[...] said, I’m focusing 2009 on giving. I’m looking into churches that will force me to be involved. I’m looking for [...]