God is Great, God is Good;
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed,
Give us Lord our Daily Bread.
Amen.
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed,
Give us Lord our Daily Bread.
Amen.
Author Anonymous
Friends are Great, Friends are Good
Let us thank them for our gifts
By their hands we are truly blessed
We thank you God for our beloved friends.
Amen
Paraphrased by Carrie Humphreys
Since adulthood, I've been pretty blessed in jobs that provide decent income. I've had the money to "spare" to fill a friends gas tank, let a friend borrow a few bucks, pay the frazzled mother's grocery tab because she misplaced her debit card while juggling her three young kids. I've been fortunate enough to have enough in my account to pay for someone's brake job or to buy back to school clothes for a family of three young boys.
I've always had room for young people or abused adults in bad situations to spend a few days in my living space to get their ducks in a row.
No, I'm not bragging. I know there are many people who do more and I wish we could do more. This year our generosity only extended to one of the food boxes for the hungry that they have at the grocery store. So, no, I'm not bragging.
My reality the last couple of years has changed. I've changed careers and situations to where my cash flow just isn't what it used to be. In fact, I'm lucky when its a trickle, forget the flow. Fortunately, because of the love and time we have, and the generosity of others toward animals, we are still able to feed our giving spirits by taking care of special needs foster pups.
You want to know what's odd about all of this? While I do miss having those things to give, thanks to the people in my current life, I'm actually happier than ever. Huh...imagine that.
For the first time I'm truly experiencing anxiety/fear/stress and humbleness. In the next few days and weeks, I will be seeing specialists about medications, surgery, and hearing aids for my ears. I'm overwhelmed, not only by the money this will take, but all of the insurance hoop-jumping required and even haggling to make payment plans with the doctors.
While I know I have mentioned the pain and fear of the pain often, I've mentioned very little about these financial fears. Yet somehow, my friends and angels have come up with words of encouragement, offers of help through the medical system, offers of rides, company for Jamie and her parents, prayers, karma, and good spirits and yes, even offers of money and loans.
As this humbles me, it also lets me know how very very blessed I am. Thank you.
Sometimes "thank you" are not the easiest words to say. My gut reaction is to say "I appreciate your offer, but I'll be just fine." This time I really do need the help being offered. I guess they are right, God doesn't close a door without opening a window.
When we deny a gift
– be it praise or present –
it’s rude, impolite and hurtful.
Think about it!
The giver was sharing with their heart and wanted to put a smile on our face or give our spirits a little boost and we essentially threw it back in their face.
When the same giver continuously has their gifts rejected, they eventually stop sharing them.
This is bad for both parties as they each feel unappreciated but for different reasons.
That’s horrible and unnecessary and can be avoided by just saying
“Thank you.”
3 comments:
Carrie, your post tonight puts me in our mind of my Joe (your JoeClause). I don't think he will mind me telling the story of how he came to be in Tennessee.
He lived in Tampa for 16 years before moving up here 5 years ago. Down there he had a great paying job, his last yearly income in Florida was 6 figures. He had money to spare, paid many bills for friends and family (I won't go into that but let's just say everyone around him was well taken care of financially). He had a generous heart, even giving away a truck to a very needy family who didn't have any transportation. He spared no expense when it came to entertainment for friends and such. Finally one day after sitting for 17 cycles at a red light because traffic down there is so congestion he decided he had enough. So he along with his mom and sister and her family moved up here. He found a job making considerably less but managed. Once the construction and housing hit rock bottom his commission checks were few and far between. At that time he and I met and quickly fell in love. He changed jobs a couple of times finding one he could actually make money at but the bottom fell out of that too and he found himself with no income.
I remember a summer night we spent out on the porch looking up at the night sky and him telling me that used to he spared no expense, had money to burn and now he had nothing but my love an he could not be happier.
Money does bring security for sure and it is nice, so very nice to have but Joe found true happiness with no money. Sometimes we learn a very good lesson the hard way. Lack of money allows us to accept a helping hand when once we were the helpers. There is nothing wrong with accepting a helping hand. I think God puts people in our lives at just the right times.
Shelley has me in tears. She is absolutely right. Friend (angels) come out of the woodwork in times of need and help in different ways.
It may be difficult to accept help but people are offering out of the goodness of their heart and not to brag.
Hugs to you. I'm with you through this journey. I know you're scared- you will soar through this.
Shellie...thanks for the Joe Clause story it helps. Thank you for centering me...in so many ways.
Steph..I know your there thank you, I don't think people are offering to help as ways of bragging. I just didn't want any one to think I was bragging about my past. I know I'm in the right place at the right time.
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