The Giver.

Do you know that person? The one who is always willing to share. The one who always seems to have a gift or just "a little something" for you for no reason. If you think about it, you can probably pick out a couple people in your life who are givers. I know several, and I am blessed to have them as good friends in my life. Some of them I know casually and others I am actually related to. They are the people who are always ready to give something or they just always have that thought, "I think she would like this" ...so they end up buying it. Or it's that friend that insists on taking you to lunch even though you are trying to save money, and they, of course, pay for you- without a second thought. These are the people that are interested in your friendship regardless of the return on it. These are the people that devote time and energy to your friendship. These are the people who give you the last of the ice cream in their fridge. They are the people who make a fresh pot of coffee for you after they have finished off the pot. They are the people who bring you Starbucks when they stopped by to grab their own drink. They are the people who would loan you their favorite pair of shoes because they look better with your outfit. They let you borrow their new shirt that they haven't even worn yet. They let you cut in line and order the last blueberry cake donut that they had their eye on.

I know someone exactly like this.* She does not hesitant to be generous. In fact, the very notion of discussing generosity might seem mundane to her. It is comes secondhand to her because she inherited it from her mother. She is a hostess. She is servant. She genuinely cares. She's unselfish. She is a giver. If you know her at all or have ever been over to visit her, the chances are good she has either baked you cookies or her own (cinnamon) bread. yum! In her friendships, she gives. She gives you time. She listens. She cares deeply and is personally bothered when her friends are hurting. She'll lose sleep for you. She'll skip a meal for you and drive all night for you.

Yes, these are the givers. They are filled with generosity. Maybe this ease of giving is not something that we are all blessed with. Some of us guard our things. We hoard our resources and hide our belongings. We keep our nice possessions close. We flaunt our expensive stuff and shutter to think of sharing it.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." - 2 Cor. 9:6-9

How can we not give when so much has been given to us? Does not our generosity flow out of the grace He so freely gave to us? We deserve absolutely nothing, yet He pours out gifts of grace to us daily! Our stuff, our things, our possessions, our talents, our money, our health, even our awards and achievements are not ours. We are mere stewards of everything bestowed to us. How then are we going to live? Does His grace not change the state of your heart's generosity?




*I am not the only one who is blessed by her generous spirit. Julie is a sweet and gracious sister whose patience is much appreciated when it comes to my own generosity.