GENEROUS. WHO, ME?

By Patti Iverson

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as you can.” Anon

GENEROUS. YES, YOU!

The best things we all want in life: joy, love, happiness, knowledge, peace, possessions, money, time, etc, usually come back to us in spades only when we share them in spades. Barbra Streisand, as Fanny Brice, the old Ziegfield Follies star in the “Funny Girl” musical, spouted to her rich beau, “Money is like manure, ya gotta spread it all around for it to do any good.”

I love the obituaries. No, not the old joke to see if I’m dead or not. To see how folks lived or died. Recently there was a woman who shared devotion and love with all those around her. Her biggest joy was to see her children and “grands” grow up in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The obit listed her areas of service to others. Quite impressive. Quite holy. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of His godly ones.” Psalms 116:15

A self made man who made so much money and the organizations he belonged to made me sad. Nothing altruistic or for the betterment of society. He lived. He died. The richest man in the cemetery. Oh, big whoop…

I loved the lady “who wore purple, lime, green ‘n gold lame with sequins who lived out loud.” Her love was relationships and pursuing her passions. Some people are overflowingly generous with joy. Now, I call that, if not saved, still superb!

Cute 13-year-old Cassie, the cheerleader, shared with me about the generous and “awful” folks that came through their benefit car wash. Terrific lady said, “Here’s $20.00. Keep the change!” Silly person wanted them to wash their pit bull. Wonderful folks wanted to help them wash. Crummy person sat in car with A/C on while car spewed hot air all over the cheerleaders washing ‘n working in 100 degree weather. Others buoyed them on with encouragement. And so life goes. After we had that great conversation, dear Cassie and Dina said my dog was dirty and they washed his yucky fuzzy body just out of love. No big discussion—they just upped ‘n did it. That’s generous love!

Is generosity learned behavior or just part of our personality? Does it matter? If it’s not “really you”, YOU can change. If you are lacking, or don’t know how to begin, the Bible clearly says in James 1:5: “…ask of God who gives generously…” Awww shucks! If God is so generous, how can we be any less? We don’t do God a favor by serving Him; He blesses us by allowing us to serve.

We had a large garage sale. Friday eve we moaned ‘n groaned looking at all the stuff to set up. 8pm, clock ticking, night falling, and no progress. Arrrrgh! It seemed impossible. We had to open the door at 7 am - gasp-gulp! Up drive some acquaintance friends—not old or best, just good people my daughter is getting to know and love. They thought we needed help, and worked until after midnight, then bought food to fuel our tired minds and bodies. Generosity and love personified in Dick and Dina. (It must be the name, Dina)

Are we generous in accepting other’s immaturity or lifestyle different than our own? Can you share your ears generously with a small, active child or a faltering, forgetful elder? You don’t have to give till it hurts. Live and give until it feels good!

There are folks all over the world who share of themselves until their blunt, strong hands are weary, their tears have flowed dry, all their work has gone unremembered and unpaid, and their very self has been gloriously all used up in service to God and His people. You will find these generous souls wherever you go, or you will find the ‘other” kind. You will be this kind, or you will be the “other” kind.

GENEROUS, YES, YOU! Praise God…