How Generous Are You?

How generous are you? Have you ever met someone that went above and beyond to be generous to others?

One of my co-workers is always who I think of when I think of generous. She is absolutely the BEST at little surprises to make our day brighter! Many mornings we get to school to find our favorite soda ice cold on our table. Or she will text and say she is bringing chicken biscuits. My favorite is when she brings a box of Little Debbie cakes and gives us each a treat (I have a sweet tooth, obviously). Even during the summer, she snail-mailed funny and encouraging cards to us! Is she generous because she is rich? No, she's a school teacher with two daughters in college. Is she trying to get recognition? No, most of the time she just leaves a treat on our table without a "from" tag. She does this because she wants to be generous.

Another co-worker knows everyone's favorite drink and brings them to school. Sometimes she shows up with a Starbucks treat as well. She's always the first to share any teaching resources that she created herself so that we can use them in our classroom as well. She is always generous with her time to help us with any tech problems we are having in our classroom. She works after school as well to create notes and plans and yearly calendars for the grade level. Again--- not looking for attention or praises from others, she does this to be generous.

I also think of my mom and dad. They were always so faithful to be generous to their church. One year, the R.A.s (boys' mission group) had a basketball free throw fundraiser. The boys were raising money to help them go to camp. My dad didn't want any of the boys to feel left out so he pledged a particular amount for every made free throw for every boy. The day of the fundraiser, the boys continued to make shot after shot. In the end, my dad had to write a very large check because of all the shots. He always joked, "I didn't know they shot that good."

My mom is also generous. When she was still working, she would be generous with her time at school. There were many nights that my dad and I had to drive to her school because it was late and she was there at night by herself. We went to make sure she was safe and we could follow her home. She would rather stay late to complete paperwork so that every moment students were at school, she could help them instead of closing her office door.

I can think of so many examples of generosity. I am blessed and thankful to have these examples of being generous in my life.

Some people want to think that generosity is only applicable in material things or that you have to be rich in order to be generous. That is simply not true. Yes, some people are in a place where they can be financially generous to others. However the most generous people I know are just regular men and women. Besides financially, these people are generous with their time, energy, knowledge, and sharing their resources.

For Christians, generosity isn't just a good idea. It's something we are called to do.

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16


I try to be generous. I love to make things for others and help others. However, I still struggle with generosity.

How? By having an unloving heart when someone doesn't respond how I think they should. When I expect a certain reaction or result in the end, then I'm not being generous. I am not having the correct motivation for what I did.

That's the thing about generosity--- it's NOT about the giver. It's about showing someone love.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I John 3:18

So, I have to work on that. That's my personal goal for this upcoming school year--- to be truly generous regardless of the result or reaction. Even if no one ever knows what I did. Even if I never hear the words "thank you". Even if someone doesn't reciprocate the generosity.

I want to be generous. NO MATTER WHAT.

"By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15 (MSG)

"You have been treated generously, so live generously." Matthew 10:8 (MSG)


Lord,
Teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost.
*partial prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola