The secret of living is giving; so what can you (and I) give
today?
Sometimes our bank accounts are low and so we think that we cannot
give because we have “nothing” to give. But everything is not “money”.
It’s now spring and many of us will do some cleaning and
find things we haven’t used, clothes we have not worn, and an array of stuff
that we have to walk around that just “fills” our lives. We think that we are “attached”
to them, that they have great value, that we may wear them again, that they
will come back into style, etc. Give them life, by getting them out of your
life, and into the life of another person who can actually use them! Give these
things to friends, to a charity such as Goodwill, Savers or other, or simply
set them out front on the curb with a big sign: “FREE”!
Put “urgency” on your giving. If you need a blessing in any
of the Major 8, and you need it now; give now. If you need to receive in any
way; “blessings”, financially or otherwise, give now!
Ideally, if you need “time” you should give “time”. If you
need “money” you should give “money” because you will usually receive as you
sow; for instance, when planting tomatoes you harvest tomatoes! But, just by
getting rid of things in your life, you’ll physically make room for new things
in your life, and you’ll find that other areas of your life will grow too.
Make a list of people who you know, friends and relatives
with a short description of their likes and hobbies. Then you can give your unused
and unwanted items to them. I keep a small area with boxes labeled with my kid’s
and grandkid’s names and when I come across something that I think would
benefit them, I put it in the box, and when I visit them, I take it to them.
Set aside some things that you would like to put in your
garage sale, or that you want to sell online if you’d like. But know this; don’t
think that by selling these things that you will “get more”. There is something
about “giving” instead of “selling” that brings more return; probably because you
will get a return in more areas other than only financially.
The secret of living is giving. So, what can I give today?
