Nothing left to give.


Giving is an act of generosity.
Giving is sowing a seed.
The seed will produce a great harvest of fruits.
-- Lailah Gifty Akita


Over the past few months, I have had some delightful conversations with a gentleman named Bert. Bert, in his words, definitely has more days behind him than he has remaining ahead. In other words, he is getting up in years.

Now Bert, by his very nature, is a generous man. He is a faithful giver to his church, and is first in line making extra gifts when it’s needed and he has the resources to help. He says his income is limited. But with the income he has, he is determined to make a difference in the world.

Look up the word generosity in the dictionary. You’ll see Bert’s picture, right there.

But what I really love is his attitude.

Bert tells me he wants to die with an empty bank account. And he hopes his last check before he dies bounces. (He laughed and added, “And I hope I don’t write it to you!”) After all, he says, he won’t have any use for his money when he’s gone. He wants to see how much joy he can generate while he’s still around to see the smiles.How about that?

May we all yearn for a heart like Bert’s, focused on making others’ lives easier and trusting in you to be sure I have enough. Amen.


Monday What do you have to give—that’s not money? Look for an opportunity to offer yourself in service. Acts 9:1-6

Tuesday Do you have a change jar? What do you do with the pocket change you have left at the end of each day? For the month of May, set it aside for charity. Psalm 30:1-3

Wednesday We don’t often like to think about our own death. Give your family a break: make sure your will and other documents are up-to-date. Psalm 30:4-9

Thursday Take time today to tell someone part of your story; then take time to listen to theirs. Revelation 5:11-14

Friday As the week draws to a close, check your wallet. If you have extra cash left at the end of the week, consider giving it away to your church or other charity. John 21:15-19

Saturday Today, as you pray for yourself, ask God to examine your heart. Where could you make better choices with your resources? Rest in God’s generosity. Psalm 30:10-12

Sunday It’s Mother’s Day in the States. If you still have your mother, give her a call, send a note or stop by for a visit. Be patient and generous with your presence. Isaiah 65:17-25

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping back. . . .

Image
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and with a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,  even if your whole world seems upset.  –St. Francis de Sales This week, I invite you to simply sit in a quiet space with words of hope and promise, and to remember, as Julian of Norwich knew, that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well . It has been a long, difficult season. Advent and the coming of the Christ is just around the corner. Peace and comfort to your spirit. Monday   “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Matthew 11:28-30 Tuesday  “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6-9 Wednesday  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
Read more

It's that time again. . . .

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised changed, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness?  Whatever it is,  it’s welcome. –Kristin Armstrong No matter what part of the world you call home, this time of year brings big changes. While my friends Down Under are watching sings of new growth emerge from the earth as temperatures rise, here in Ohio, the leaves are turning from green to gold and orange, red and brown. The winds have taken on a chill; clouds hang heavy, like soggy cotton, reminding us that soon and very soon, we are going to see the snow . Always different, yet somehow, the same. We depend on God’s eternal ways, and trust that again this year, winter will follow autumn, just like it should. So why is it, as we anticipate and appreciate changes like these, when it comes to so many things in life we pull up short, wrinkle our noses and say No! No change! I like things just the way they are! It’s t
Read more

Starting again

“This, then, is how you should pray:" --Matthew 6:9a I have been really sensing lately that there is another blog inside me, one focused on prayer.  Oh, I know-- those elephants are all about prayer. Heck, they  are  prayer. And I will continue there, as well. But what I've been feeling is that people-- maybe you--  have always been told, "You should pray," or "Pray about that." But maybe you feel your prayers aren't "good enough," or that it's just too hard, too embarrassing, too [fill in the blank] to pray. Maybe it feels like no one really talks about how  to pray-- except, of course, for Jesus, in Matthew 6 and a couple parallel passages where we are given what's come to be known as The Lord's Prayer. And it is a great prayer. And there are other great prayers, and other ways to pray that do not involve rote. So "my plan" here is to share, hopefully on a weekly or semi-regular basis, a lot of
Read more