The Blessing Of Giving

Giving has been on the mind a lot lately and not just because Christmas is coming. I'm finding as I get older, giving is an incredible treat. When I was a young adolescent I liked the idea of giving but found it to be hard at times.  I found that giving became tough when I was feeding my selfish desires. Suddenly I had lots of reasons to not give. Maybe because it was inconvenient? It took too much of my time? I didn't have enough money? Or I simply just didn't feel like it. This way of thinking led me down a path of discontentment. I soon began to understand that GIVING brought more than contentment... it brought joy. It not only brought joy to me but to many others. The action of keeping everything to myself didn't bring joy. And it certainly didn't bring joy to others either. I'm thankful I came to that realization early in life. I think most people come to this realization early in life... but that doesn't always mean we take that realization and make it a reality. So I find that it's good to reflect on what giving does and what it means to give. I write this post just as a reminder, as I like being reminded of the simple yet important values in life. 
Naturally, giving to others always gives back... but in a much different way. A much better way. Blessing others truly blesses the soul. Compulsively buying things for ourselves only satisfies temporarily and the satisfaction only goes skin deep. No material thing really measures up to the gift of giving to others. Giving doesn't always manifest itself in giving material items either. The gift of giving can be done in many ways: time, love, a helping hand, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, etc. This is what we are called to do. Give. We are called to look like Christ... and what is one of the many things God does? He gives. He gives abundantly. 
I believe that giving to others ultimately results in giving back to God. Hopefully in our giving people see Christ. We must realize that our ability to give is by the grace of God. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross wholly defines the word giving. Without His sacrifice we wouldn't know what it means to give. 
I pray that I will always remember what it means to give and what it does to the heart's people who have a need that can be filled by us taking a moment to... give. 

Whatever, Lord, we lend to Thee,
Repaid a thousand-fold will be;
Then gladly will we give to Thee,
Who givest all—who givest all. —Wordsworth