I have this one friend – almost everywhere she goes, she gives gifts. Roses to teachers, journals to me, and flowers to so many. She is a gifted in gifts.
She is so impressive!
I am normally the one loaded with 2 kids, a purse loaded with the rock of baby wipes and a to-do list times one thousand. Getting out to buy gifts feels as impossible as moving a herd of animals through the eye of a needle.
Giving is something I always want to do, but it takes a back seat to my life.
It’s something that I love to get, but have a hard time extending.
I know it blesses, but it also heightens my stresses.
Yet, research has proven that giving:
– increases the health of those with chronic illnesses (Stephen Post, Why Good Things Happen to Good People)
– decreases the risk of dying in the elderly after volunteering (Doug Oman, University of California, Berkeley)
– lowers stress and blood pressure.
Clearly giving is a great thing. The more we outpour the more that in pours to us.
A woman came with a special sealed jar. It contained very expensive perfume made out of pure nard. She broke the jar open and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head. Mk. 14:3
This woman outpoured a ton – a year’s worth of salary. Her deep sacrifice was a true outpouring of her heart. There is no mention of the kids screaming at home, the wipes in her bag or the lists of things she had to do, she just poured out.
When we keep our eyes on Jesus,
suddenly our excuses grow small and our causes grow big.
This woman poured out great love through this great gift,
a great sacrifice for a great God
and a great example for the great, great, great…grandchildren of Jesus today.
What would happen if we poured out like she did?
Might Jesus say to us: She has done a beautiful thing to me… Mark 14:6
Might our name be more greatly etched into the world and eternity?
What she has done will be told anywhere the good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her.” Mk 14:9
As she stood…weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Lu. 7:38
When we pour, like this woman and then our hearts melt like wax. The wick of our pride, selfishness and complacency melt down to the ground, leaving us on our knees, where we receive and give our very best. We take our hair and we wipe the feet of others. We get into the nitty gritty of grime, into the places where it feels uncomfortable, into the places where we prepare others for a new life.
It’s in the offering of our greatest – in the wiping of the dirty – that we get to kiss the feet of the one who walked into desolate dry hearts to make abundant new life.
When we touch these needy, unseen and untouchable places with our greatest gift, love, we find our hearts are restored.
We find it’s so much less about the other and so much more about Jesus reconfiguring our vision.
We find deeper connection with the recipient and with the one who is all sufficient.
My friend’s outpouring of love inspires my heart to see…
Giving is the only gift that hands-back more than we could ever hand-out. It’s one of the only ways to get more than you ever asked for.
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I really like how you related the prompt gift with the fact that we are not all givers of tangible gifts, but we can be giving in service. You give love to your little ones by carrying that big mom purse, and we can all serve love like Jesus did! 🙂 jenn
Yes, we can serve in love. All the little things are ways and opportunities to love more deeply – sometimes the little things are more of a feet washing than the big recognized things, you know?
I can appreciate how others seems to always come armed with a gift for others. That’s not always me. Giving is an action that does require time on our part but gives so much in return. Have a blessed weekend!
It sure does Mary. I pray that you and I can grow in giving more and more. Help us God.
So true Kelly, when we give, our hears melt like wax. My love language is gift giving but I have to tell you it’s been a little slack these days because of running in different directions. I hate that because I love to give. You made me put on my thinking cap today.
Love you ~
Oh my goodness, Christy, I love it when the thinking cap goes on. God could be gearing up to use your gift in a huge way! Thank you dear friend for your comment today, I love hearing from you.
Kelly, yep. Give. Get so much more than you ever considered. Jesus. Gorgeous!
Susan
Thank you Susan! XOXO
Lovely encouragement, Kelly. Giving comes naturally to some and others need to choose. And giving does take many forms. Time, treasures, talents. It’s a way to love on others. And practicing love always makes our Father smile. And you DO GIVE, Kelly. Your regular doses of encouragement are GIFTS to all of us!! God bless you, sweet sister. xxoo #DanceWithJesus
It does take so many forms. How right you are! Thank you for your kind words on my giving Sheila. I give in the way I can. May we both pour out from our hearts.
The timing of this is funny. I shared a link to a friend’s go fund me page (she’s a student who has hit a fairly major financial snag recently) with a Christian Facebook group I’m a member of.
The first comment was a mini essay with many question, essentially asking me to justify why her cause was worthy of his charity. I just finished responding and I really didn’t mind answering some of the questions/concerns but I was a little perplexed. Do you think this woman in the Bible spent ages agonizing over whether Jesus was worthy of her gift? Probably not.
That is funny timing. I think you are right; Jesus never said, “quantify hearts before extending love,” he simply said, “give.” I agree completely.
“When we keep our eyes on Jesus, suddenly our excuses grow small and our causes grow big.” Such good happens, Kelly, when we keep our eyes on Him! Sweet blessings to you, my friend. : )
Isn’t that the truth Crystal. He works in ways we never anticipated!
What lovely encouragement, I was actually speaking to a friend today about the power of giving without expecting anything in return. We need more selfless givers in the world. Thank you for a good dose of encouragement.
Thank you Romany. I love Gods’ timing. Awesome!
I am always the one that is stopping on the way to a party to purchase a gift. I have good intentions of being a giver but they rarely make it from the thought stage to the doing stage. I will chose to focus on giving more.
The responses have shown my heart that we can give in other ways that are far greater than actual gifts. I am realizing, the better gift may be all of your present heart upon arriving there. You know?
Beautiful, beautiful post. You have inspired me to give more.
Thank you Dianne for your words. I am so delighted that God is speaking to you!
Hello Kelly, when we give we open doors of blessings into our lives.
I admire your friend’s heart. May God bless her for going out of her way to reach people.
Have a blessed weekend.
Many Blessings to you.
Kelly, I am a lot like your friend! It is so fun to receive but I would much rather give to others. I get so much joy out of giving to my friends and family.
What a beautiful gift you have Tara. I am sure it blesses so many. Keep the love flowing!
I use to believe that I couldn’t “give” to others due to my financial situation. I always associated it with giving money. But we can give of our time, resources, energy, words and give so much more sometimes that way. Thanks for sharing at The Weekend Brew
Hi Barbie, thanks for your comment. How right you are! There is so much to give. Much love to you.
Passing here to your blog read and get encouragement as always. Thanks for sharing!!!! Great post!!!! Blessings
Tayrina from TGAWrites
Thanks Tayrina! I hope you found encouragement, sweet one.
Beautiful! I don’t read much about the perfume scripture — how you brought it to life! Giving is such a joyful, loving, fulfilling quality — I realize now those who are givers always stand out! I’d like to do so more..thanks for your insightful, encouraging blog!
I am so glad it came to life! May we be takers of Jesus’ love so we can give out all that he is. Thank you Kathy!