Giving

First of all, I am NOT above it all.  I was out at 8pm til 130am doing my "black Friday" shopping mostly on Thursday night.  Who doesn't want a better deal and who doesn't want to shop earlier rather than later?  As it was, I did not get to sleep til after 230a and had to wake up by 8 (if Savi let us sleep in!

Abi (8) was super sweet when we were out shopping last night and admitted that it is fun to buy for other people but she likes it "a little bit more" when she is the one getting.  Who doesn't?!  Most people will not admit this, but leave it to a child to once again, make us reevaluate our feelings.  I love buying gifts for my children and I love being able to give to friends and family.  Here comes the "but"... I sure do LOVE receiving surprises- whether it is a book from a friend, a meal brought to our home, or of course, say, a new ring that sparkles ;-)

Abi has really gotten into this giving to other people and I know that we are so blessed. Despite her selfish wants (we are all born with) and despite being in this all-consuming age, she has the desire to help others.  She was given the opportunity to help assist in feeding the homeless around the Raleigh area with a church we were visiting.  Abi was so cute and offered up pineapple to each person who passed her serving dish.  My heart swelled with love and pride and I had to fight my overwhelming urge to leave my station serving chicken to hug my sweet girl.  I pray, had Savi been old enough, she too would have stood beside her big sister and offered up green beans.  

It wasn't that Abi had this overwhelming desire to feed people pineapple but she had the overwhelming desire to HELP and she was offering up LOVE on that spoon. Letting the people without homes know she CARES and though at 8 yrs old, she cant do much but she can certainly do SOMETHING.  

Such a reminder.  I am praying that this season is truly one of giving.  I agree we should be thrifty with our spending of new gadgets and whatnot... we do not need everything we want.  There is such a difference.  It is okay to tell your children they will not receive that iPad that all their friends seem to have... it is okay to tell your children 'NO' when they seem to have everything but still want more.  Let us learn to give to the needy and not treat them as 'others' undeserving of our time and effort.  Let us learn to hold open doors for strangers and smile at each other rather than avoid eye contact.  Let us learn to do something greater than we imagined for ourselves.

In Acts 20:35 we read that Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.... 

Acts 20:35

New International Version (NIV)

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Acts 20:35

The Message (MSG)

^33-35 “ I've never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’”