A charitable heart is beyond measure during those challenging times in our lives when we ourselves are in a place that I like to call the "The Valley". In the valley life offers an appearance of gloom and doom. Circumstance does not appear to be in your favor, nor does opportunity appear to be knocking on your door anytime soon. Contrary, to what many people may think or circumstance may offer you during this time. When we are in the valley of gloom it is not always limited to financial distress. Often we spend just as much time in the valley during those times of mental or physical distress as we do during financial distress within our lives.
Regardless of our reasons for being in such a gloomy place, we have already been given the tools needed to dig our way out or to build the staircases needed to reclaim our successes. We only have to make a decision and take action in using our tools. While the consideration of options in which tools are appropriate for which time or circumstance will always exist. I have found that one tool has always been consistent in its bearing of fruit within my life.
MISSION VALLEY
It is the tool of practicing the art of giving. Though I have always been a giving person, when I encounter a time of lack or challenge within my life, I increase my giving. In my giving I find that I am not only offering an increase in reward to its recipients, but I am also offering myself a practice of gratitude and thankfulness for those blessings that already exist in my life.
For anyone to share what little they presently have, even during a time of lack, is a very rewarding act of gratitude for what they have already been given. I believe that the act of giving is not what challenges most of us in practicing the art of giving. In most cases I believe the challenge exists in what to give.
For many people it is easier to give money rather than time. I am sure that if we were to ask ourselves the age old question of "What would bare the most fruit?" we would find that the giving of money offers a short shelf life. While the offering of your time has the potential to encourage additional giving, along with an interactive yet emotional exchange of life lessons for all parties associated with the giving practice.
There are many reasons that we could all find in favor or not in favor of giving. Some of the statements that I've heard people use over the years are as follows:
1. For every minute spent in donating time they could be making more money to give in the future.
2. People need money now, not to see my face
3. I can't give away any of my time, I need it to make all of the money I can right now.
4. I barely survive with the money I'm making on my own job, what difference is my little donation going to make in another person's life.
Though each of these statements offer rightful challenge in why, and in what capacity someone would be encouraged to give, they also discourage the effort and opportunity in achieving the most you could possibly offer or receive in the practicing of your giving.
Giving is not only an opportunity, but a gift that you receive from yourself. When you are restricting the capacity of your giving through circumstance, you are also restricting your own opportunity and placement within one of the greatest pleasures that anyone can ever experience in their life, the pleasures of mutual gratitude.
How do you feel about giving? I'd like to know.....
Giving With Gratitude MISSION VALLEY
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