Generosity

I’ve been pondering on writing a blog post about this topic for a long while now. Generosity is something which is incredibly important to me…so much so that it is a part of me and something completely normal to me.

But over the years I’ve realised that not everyone sees it in the same way. I’ll often travel to see friends that live far away and also give little gifts to friends just because…

“There is a mystery about generosity. If you see it with your human eyes you might think that you lose—position, recognition, resources—when you give away what you have to others… but God that is wise; always rewards the giver in ways we cannot explain.”
JA Perez

This quote explains so well how generosity works in my mind.. I never once feel like I have lost anything when I give to others..

And so does this one!

“One of the first conditions of happiness is the ability to take pleasure in other people’s happiness.”
Marty Rubin

I feel quite sad when I’m told off sometimes for doing this..but what people don’t realise is that giving is something kind of instinctive in me..a part of me and one of my love languages.. Which also goes someway to explain why I am a giver. When I am told off it feels to me like I am being told off for being myself..which I find a bit odd. But part of the reason that happens is because random acts of kindness and gifts are not normal in our society.

Even when I know that someone would not do the same for me. That doesn’t stop me giving towards that person after all even though generosity is important to me not everyone sees generosity the way I do but that’s ok. We are not all made to be carbon copies of each other. After all I don’t give with the expectation of getting any thing back.

“That’s what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.”
Simone de Beauvoir

Where as for me it is normal..

One last word from a wise man..
“You make all kinds of mistakes, but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce, you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.”
Winston S. Churchill

[I may add to this later]

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Forgiveness [playing your part]

Sometimes every day is a lesson in forgiving .
Remembering that everyone has been hurting and fighting battles.
Everyone is a story still in going..

Today is not the end…

Each day is a brand new page to write
more of the story He is writing..

Which means..bucketfuls of [grace].
To be bestow upon all we meet.

Play your part [that only you can place].
No one can replace you..

Carole Farish August 2014

Leading In Life

I stumbled upon this quote yesterday. It’s definitely how I aspire to live my life. Being generous is part of who I am and it makes my heart happy to know that in this way I have been a small part of making someone’s life that little bit better.

So often we can wait for other people to do things for others or ourselves. I think often we can forget that we are part of the answer.

We all have qualities and abilities that can bless others. It’s about using what is in our hands right now.

Maybe all your have right now is a smile or a hug. Use them to brighten up someone’s day!

Little things really do make a big difference. You really can lead the way with your kindness, open heartedness, being friendly and generous.

I’m participating in an initiative over lent called 40 Acts (living life generously). Yesterday was all about reaching out to others. So I sent out a few little notes to precious friends.

Towards the end of the afternoon I saw a BIG ISSUE seller at the bottom of my street and bought a copy of the magazine. Often I’ve walked past others like the man at the end of my street. Yesterday reminded me of the importance of looking upwards. We can often be so in our own little worlds that we forget to notice those around us.

When we do stop to notice others. That small action can be a part of lifting them up and helping them to realise that they are valued.

But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. (Matthew 19:30 NLT)

We compared to God have different ideas regarding importance and influence. Being important is something we aspire to where as with God it works the other way round. We don’t need to be important in the way the world sees (like aspiring to be famous). Each of us has areas that we hold influence in and that is as much as valuable. After all no one else can be YOU!

Love burns in our Hearts.

Love burns like a flame untouched
But scorches marks on our hearts
Only God’s perfect love overwhelming

He gave His best for us to live
To come amongst us
Showing us what real love looks like?

Picking up the pieces of our broken hearts
Which were like shattered glass
A hundred million shards

Put back together like new
A re creation of the masterpieces
God created our lives to be

Now able to show to the world
Hope is possible
We need to reach out most to others
When we’re hurting
We’ve got things that need to be
given away

Only in this we then know
Its about living life with open hands
Showing His love and kindness
To all around us