Living life with open hands

Giving and receiving

The world is in a continuous state of circulation and flow. Everything is in constant motion. Whether it is the water cycle, breathing cycle, changes in seasons.

Even the body has its own circulation and flow. It happens even without our knowing that is the way the creator of the universe made it.

Being married and being a new mom has taught me a lot about giving. In my single days, it was all about me. When I gave, it was on my own terms and I almost always wanted something in return. Not that it is wrong to want something in return but intentions and motive behind our actions matter.

Coming from that into a relationship, then having a baby was a huge transition. I often felt tired of having to give of myself all the time. Moms can agree with me that when you have a baby it’s all about them. It often feels like your needs and wants don’t exist.

But I was reminded that someone (parents, family, friends) had to give something and is still giving in one way or the other for me to be where I am and if at any point they got tired and and stopped giving I would not be the person I am today.

The world is all about giving and receiving but it is often easier and more convenient to be on the receiving end because that requires little or no effort on our part.

The truth is you are giving something every day, even though you are unaware of it. You stop giving the day you die.

Have you ever thought about how rain comes about? Here is a picture to show how.

If the sun decides not to give off its heat, if the ocean water never rises into the air, and the clouds hold on to the droplets — there would be no rain and without rain there is no growth and life as we know it would not exist. As giving and receiving applies to the atmosphere, it also applies to every living thing.

In the sayings of Albert Einstein:- it is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.

I am reminded of the story in the Bible in which a master was going on a journey and entrusted his property to to his workers. To one he gave five talents, to another two and another one.

The workers who received five and two gave back ten and four respectively but the one who was given one hid his talent (gift) and gave it right back to his master without making use of it.

The worker with five was given five more because he was not only a receiver but a giver. You might be thinking that the worker who was given one talent did give what was given to him back. Yes he did but the whole point was not just giving back what was received but putting to use that which was given.

We have to put to use that which have been freely given to us. The gift of life is one of those things.

I recently read that there are three types of people- the takers, the matchers and the givers.

Takers — are always trying to get as much from others.

Matchers — always want something in return if they did you a favor.

Givers- go out of their way to give or support you without no strings attached.

Practicing to give, doesn’t always have to do with money. Giving monetary gifts are important but there are other ways to give. They include:-

And the list goes on…

When you are a giver and give without expectations, it might be uncomfortable to receive. But every giver needs a receiver and vice versa. Do not shy away from receiving.

Here is a rule of thumb guide for behavior- Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them:- Matthew 7:12

When I came across this bible verse, I realized that I had to make a change — and instead of always looking to receive when I had given nothing, I had to give first and receiving would come naturally.

So I made a list on what I would like to receive and made a decision to give it first. This decision is still a work in progress.

In the sayings of Zig Ziglar:-

“You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people to get what they want”. So…

Have you ever tried to lose, gain or even maintain your weight without giving anything back by change in lifestyle through diet and exercise — how did that work out for you?

I’ve actually tried this more than once but I soon realized that it was impossible and I had to make a decision to discipline my self and give into my health and well-being.

The law of sowing and reaping, giving and receiving, seeding and harvesting or whatever you call it is real. So if there are areas in your life that you find lacking, ask yourself if you have sowed into that area and make changes accordingly.

I know sometimes it may seem as though you are always on the giving and not the receiving end. But “don’t allow yourself to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!”-Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭TPT‬

Please leave your comments, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading

xoxo

Stephanie

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