One of my favorite memories of years past is when I went to a restaurant, Shoney's I think, for a breakfast buffet. After I finished I went up to pay my bill. They had one of those crane machines that had stuffed animals stocked in it. I used to be somewhat addicted to those things, not the least because I had a success rate of about 80% at getting the thing I went after.
Anyway, while I was waiting to check out I saw this woman and her young son fiddle with the crane machine trying to get a stuffed dog. At 50 cents a pop, she attempted about 4 or 5 times at it with no success, and then said to him, "I'm sorry. I guess luck is not on our side."
I stepped up behind her and dropped my 50 cents in the slot and zip! pop! got the same dog on the first try. I turned to the mother and son and gave the boy the dog with a "here you go." The mother asked "why did you do that?" In all honesty I told her "I don't really want these things. I just like showing off that I can do it."
I never saw that mother and son again. I like to think the kid got years of enjoyment from the stuffed dog, but I am not under the illusion that either the son or his mother remember the event. But I do. Even going on 30 years later. And it warms my heart to remember the smile on that boy's face when I gave it to him.
Generosity sometimes comes hard when you are focused on just the immediate situation you are trying to accomplish and not noticing that things are going on around you that might give you the opportunity to be blessed.
It doesn't always require an outlay of money to be generous, sometimes it can just be a matter of a minute of time. Holding the door open for someone. Letting that guy or lady behind you in the grocery line go first, since he or she only has a couple of items, but your basket is full. Or just a gift of time, and effort on your part to help a neighbor, or even a stranger.
When I was 21, I had a paper route. After delivering the papers one morning (about 4am), I was heading home to get some much needed rest. On the way home I saw a woman pulled over with a flat tire, and she was obviously struggling to use that car jack they put in cars. I stopped and ask her if she needed help and ended up changing her tire for her. She offered me $20 as a payment, but I declined, telling her I was glad to help. I think I may have said something along the lines of "pass it on".
I admit I looked at that $20 bill with a bit of remorse at having turned it down, since in 1983 that was a lot of money, but the feeling I got for helping out a stranger in her time of need more than made up for the loss, which would probably have been used on alcoholic beverages anyway... and that would only have been a fleeting feeling of happiness, and I probably wouldn't even remember the incident today like I do.
Thus I'm not saying you should devote half of your surplus income to the local charity to be generous. Many more opportunities can be had just by doing something that others seem to ignore: like picking up that piece of paper lying by the trash barrel. Even that minor act can be an act of generosity. Just keep your mind open to the possibilities of being given the opportunity to be generous.
May your spiritual journey be fruitful.
Quiggy
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