Giving

One aspect of growth is learning to be generous, giving time and money. What ever is needed when the opportunity presents itself. I 've benefited countless times myself, the previously mentioned can of soda. Patience and tolerance of my idiosyncrasies the most common gift i receive, gratefully.

Several years ago in a valley far , far away, at a swimming pool in the middle of a corn field. A high school graduation party was going on. When we offered to compensate "repay" our two classmates who acquired the beverages. They refused to accept. It was their gift. After being pressed by several of his classmates to accept one of our benefactors replied " the problem with the world is no one knows how to accept a gift". I had two thought nearly simultaneously. ( being younger then it didn't make me dizzy)..I thought .Wow , kind of profound,, He heard that some where. He's had about as many original thoughts as I have. At least he remembered it and passed it along.

Now , I am making the jump from underage drinking, something I,ve out grown to Mark 12:43-44, The widow who gave all and the realization this is more about false pride then anything else.
I believe everyone has a need to give.We are also are directed to give. So , Who are we to refuse a gift of charity. When we are giving them a chance to give. I can name names of people that would die before accepting free cup of coffee. They are literally aghast at the thought of accepting anything from anybody or is it the thought of some one finding out. I understand the mind set. I've had this conversation with friends and family. Don't you need the money? The amount we are talking about , no. Now I could put a 100,000. to good use.
If you provide a service you deserve the pay you earn. I understand wanting to pay your own way. One Saturday morning there was a knock at the door. A gentleman speaking rather poor English wanted to know if I was the welder . The stick shift had broken off at the base. He removed it from the car, I welded it. Ten minutes. I wanted to get on with my week end. He wanted to pay me. Which he should rightfully expect to do. Now my hourly rate's close to what his cars blue book value. Not to mention getting me to work on Saturday morning. I told him no problem, no charge.He then pulled out a wad of cash to show he could pay.
Now welding is not my primary pursuit but it is something I am skilled at. My craft and time are blessings from god. They are mine to give as I choose. I try to make the right choices.I also saw that my new friend had the need to pay. I allowed him. Held out my hand " $5 please, Thank You very much". He was happy and I would have been just as happy to give him more to help with gas.
But and there 's always a but! He most likely had a family to provide for. You need a car to get to work the grocery store . This was a repair he needed and like the rest of us planned to pay for.
He came to my door with money in his pocket not his hand out. Who am I or we to tell someone else how to spend their money or to give there resources. Is it pride that gets in the way. When we do give and someone thanks us we then say " No thank You". When the proper response ( Miss Manners backs me up) is You're Welcome
If we can not accept someones gratitude. How can we accept grace.