Giving…Every Day
My mother always told me growing up, “If you hear something three times, you had better listen up; God’s talking.” Three times the word hit me this week: generosity.
Round One: It started with a devotion by my dear friend, Suzie Eller through our Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today. Suzie was planning on giving away a couple of her books that day on her blog; but instead God challenged her to give away 100. That type of obedience and generosity challenges me.
Round Two: While studying her new book “It’s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know” , Rachel Olsen poked my heart. She throws out this question, “Do I get up most mornings with the assumption that I will give to someone in need today?” My answer: not most of the time. I get up each day with my list of all that I am going to accomplish each day before the 2:15 p.m. car pool line. Rachel reminds me that my heart, thoughts and treasure are all interconnected.
Round Three: Reading the book of Proverbs to my girls over breakfast, God makes His point to me again “A generous man will himself be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 NIV
Generosity: an area I have struggled with. While at times I have appeared to be generous, in my heart, I am keeping score. I struggle to give with no strings attached; even harder is to give when no one knows. My brain wants to hang on to what I have. Some might rationalize it fear. I am afraid it is something much deeper than that; it’s greed. I will give you my time. Give you the talents I have, but to part with my money is another story.
A good friend of mine once told me that the only way to break this pattern in my life was to give. Give generously and give often. Lord, show me where, when and how much to give today.
Next week, I’ve asked Rachel to share some of her secrets here. I’ll start practicing generosity that day by giving away a copy of Rachel’s book, so please stop back by!
Have an amazing weekend! My sister, Colleen, just moved here yesterday from Tulsa; so I will be enjoying God’s generosity to me!
