The Gift of Giving

Let's have a chat about giving.Mathematically if you give out,you have deducted,hence the number has reduced and that makes perfect sense. I have Kshs.1000,I give out Kshs.100 ,I am left with Kshs.900,simply put the value is less. How then does your ending up with less value become "more"? We've heard it quite often,if not from a spiritual leader,or the holy scriptures,it is from the billionaires of this world,they all attest to the secret power of giving,they seem to sing one song"the more you give ,the more you receive" Give! Give! Give! It does not end there thou,my pastor(Julian Kyula.. www.purposecentre.org ) tells me you reap what you sow,if you choose to bless somebody with a home,you will reap shelter for your forthcoming generations,chances are your people will never lack a roof on top of their heads. Sow a seed of education,offer to pay a student's school fees arrears and chances are your children/forth generation will probably win scholarships to the best schools or have their education needs catered for. To summarize my pastor's message;give your best and you will reap the best and so it applies in reversal.

So today allow me to delve a little bit deep into the act of giving. At times you will receive news on how a philanthropic billionaire has just donated a substantial amount to a certain worthy cause or a foundation,and if you were like me you would have probably said,'well he has enough to roll it to the whole world,he could as well feed the hungry people at the horn of Africa'.Unfortunately, I have come to discover that's where we loose the angle ^_^. Giving does not have to be confined to holiday season,especially the festive season which is just around the corner when almost everyone is in a mood to share,buying gifts for loved ones and strangers. Giving does not also mean,it is done substantially in money or kind by those who have "more". There's a scripture in the gospel book of Luke,where Jesus illustrates how a poor woman who had given a small amount,but in essence it's all she had to be the  most gracious giver as opposed to a rich person who gave quite a largess. And this is where  rubber meets the road when it comes to the act of giving and tapping into its hidden magic power. I do not have to be a billionaire to reap the benefits of giving,and I have resolved each day I have to be a giver.  Giving can be as simple as offering that smile to a stranger,it could be the only smile they have received in recent past,and you may never know it,but the ripple effects of that smile could affect a whole world. Check a scenario where the smile,gives courage to the stranger and his day is fulfilled. Giving could be you  being patient and allowing another driver to go ahead first. Giving could be sharing your packed lunch with the gate man. Giving could be holding the door for someone,allowing somebody else to exit first,helping an elderly with crossing the road. Giving can be your offering a listening ear to a friend who is emotionally down.Giving can be that simple but yet the ripple effects of it are quite unimaginable.Ever heard someone say,"I saw God today"...well,I believe this sentence usually comes from a simple authentic kindness from a stranger.

I like to emulate Joel Osteen,and think we all have an account in heaven where we either make a deposit or a withdrawal.Every time we sow a seed of kindness no matter how small it may seem to you,God is watching and in essence we've made a deposit. I want to make my heaven account overflow with deposits,because it is in these deposits that I can go back and ask for God's favor feeling confidently that my request will be given.I had struggled with tithing  for so long in my life,always postponing it to the day I will get a proper "job",you know the kind that gives you a six figure salary,but it was not until I heard a personal journey of my mentor on how within five years his life was transformed from  being penniless(super broke) to a billionaire,and he had one secret power to his new status,"tithe,offerings and seed planting". He chose to be a blessing to someone,to give even when he didn't have much.  His actions were telling God,I am grateful for what I have with me today,it's so much that I can share! I want to be blessed so I can be a blessing to many others,but I have to start with what I have. If I cant give,with what I have now,how can God entrust me with more? If I am always selfish,and I can't overlook my problems to encourage another,how do I expect God to sort me out? Give in kind or in whichever way you wish,and the gracious God I serve will meet you at your point of needs. It could be tomorrow or ten years from now,just simply give and make a deposit in your heavenly account.

Nothing beats that "thank you" message,or gratitude you receive from being a giver to someone who cannot repay you. I think the wondrous rejuvenating joy the giver gets is actually more than the one the receiver feels.Let's be  giving people and witness abundance flow in our lives.

May the almighty God give you peace and grace,you are blessed.

Much love,
MM.