by Linda Todd

Created on: January 29, 2011

Realistically, we must realize first of all, that everyone does not share the same convictions about giving.  Some people love to induce someone’s happiness while there are others who do not see the need to give; even when they have the capacity to. Of course, giving is not all about money or things.  It is about giving even when one has nothing to give, also.  There is a quote that I have seen on a Church billboard that goes like this:  “You have never given, until you give, when you had nothing to give.” 

Most of us have seen a lot of little old people who are like the latter quote. They just love to give, anything, doesn’t matter what. They freely give what they have, be it ever so humble; they just love to share what they have been blessed with.  Be it something such as a baked pie or something they have been given, but have not used themselves; they just simply want to give back.  These are usually happy people, who find joy in trying to make someone else have that good feeling.  These people seem to know that giving something to someone else gives them an opportunity to exploit the knowledge that giving is better than receiving.

It seems some people are afraid of losing what they have, or think they may need it for a rainy day.  These kinds of people, do not even allow themselves to enjoy what they have. It seems they haven’t learned that only through giving do we receive blessings, that only giving brings. Things or money means not a lot to someone who does not know how to enjoy those things they have, and obviously have not leaned the blessedness of giving.  Giving might in fact teach them how to enjoy what they possess. 

Giving of course fits into many categories. There are times when a person may not feel they have anything worthy to give; they may be at the end of their rope and holding on by a thread.  This is when one should find a way to go and give someone else who might be experiencing the same thing; a word of encouragement, a word of hope. Nine times out of ten, this will not only bring their spirit up, it brings hope and courage, but in turn will lift another soul. That is giving, when you have nothing to give.

It is not always easy to give, but one can make their life more bearable by smiling at someone who seems down and alone, even the little homeless man on the park bench.  A smile cost nothing, and usually you receive one back.  The simple pat on the back of a co-worker could lift that person’s spirit and give them a vote of confidence as it tells them that they are doing a great job; to keep it up.  It cost nothing in dollars but makes plenty of “cents.”  Jack Welch stated that:  “Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing I can do.  Because then they will act.”

Angels exist in many forms; so, sometimes it is better that the receiver never know who sent the blessing; whatever the service. Giving makes one feel angelic and it gives us a sense of surreal, it shapes our hearts and gives us joy.  It is a process of humility, something that we all need from time to time.  Humility brings us grace and it is by grace that we distinguish the better things in life such as love and the greatest gift we can give is love to someone who feels unloved.

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