The Legacy of Giving

As we near the Christmas time with all its festivities and present exchanging a youngster might find it hard to appreciate the scripture given in Acts 20::35 which says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." And as adults we may even find that truth hard to assimilate at times. Giving encompasses a wide variety of actions appropriate to a certain time in life.  The picture above captures the activity of teaching a child how to make (and test taste) cookies.  It may mean helping an elderly person do simple housekeeping chores, it may mean helping  a student with homework, etc.  Many more activities could be given where we give of our self to help someone else.  Giving is more than presents and other material things.  And it is a good reminder at this time of the year when giving is centered on all the things we can buy and give.  The overstocked store shelves at this time of year tell me that the merchants are planning on thousands of people "giving".  And there is nothing inherently wrong with that.  However, the legacy the author wants to emphasis today is given briefly in her book, "I've Always Been Rich", that is giving of oneself to help the recipient receive a spiritual blessing.  She is not talking about the need to preach, teach in church, go to church the required number of services to show how religious they are or organize a benefit - even though they are all good and worthwhile endeavors.  The author of the book gives some detail about her work as a chaplain and how she found the meaning of the saying given above.  Her ministry is helping the patient understand the diagnosis just given by  the doctor.  It is encouraging the patient who sees this hospital stay as a major setback to his work schedule. It is working through the process of how the addict can be brought back to a mindset without drugs. It can mean helping the elderly/all patients  be assured of their salvation.  These are major incidents in the patients lives and to minister to them takes an emotional toll on the author.  However, not a one room can be entered without asking God to give words and love and accepting them whatever their race, religion, age, or affliction is.  It is at such times that the author completely forgets about her own needs or problems because the focus is entirely on the patient. The visit always ends by praying for the patients needs.  As Mother Theresa said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of God who is sending a love letter to the world ".  For more information about the author or her book it can be ordered at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com xulonpress.com/bookstore or your local Christian bookstore.  Or get in touch with me and we can arrange how to get a book to you.  God Bless each and every one of you.  mjrevmom6@aol.com