Giving Back

Whether I am preparing a meal for my own family in

anticipation of their arrival because of my love for them or

cooking up a meal for someone in crisis that needs comfort

and

care or perhaps fixing a meal for someone celebrating a special

event in their life, for whatever reason it might be, I have found

the words of Jesus in Acts 20:35 to ring true, that it is “more

blessed to give than to receive.” Isn’t it remarkable that when

we serve others, we are the ones that feel most blessed? Even

research says that when we become more “other focused” we

begin to feel better.

A story in scripture that depicts “giving back” in the purest

sense of the word is found in both Mark 12:41-44 and Luke

21:1-4 ……in Luke it says 21 Jesus [ a ]  looked up and saw the

rich putting their gifts into the offering box,  2  and he saw a

poor widow put in two small copper coins. [b]   3  And he

said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than

all of them.  4  For they all contributed out of their abundance,

but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Giving all she had to the one she loved with all her heart. In

her book, A Year of Bible Stories, JoAnne Simmons states, “

The poor widow understood true gratitude and giving. Even

though she had practically nothing, she was thankful for

what she did have---so thankful that she wanted to give it all

back to God. She trusted God to provide for her no matter

what, and she had a great big faith that inspired her to give

in a great big way.”

When our family went to the Philippines on a medical

mission trip years ago my heart was deeply troubled by the

vast amount of poverty in some of the remote areas we

served. What was interesting during our stay is that at least

twice when we would travel to a remote location and provide

a worship service for that remote village by teaching,

singing, providing medical care and just loving on the

people…..they in turn wanted to “give back.” We would find

out through our interpreter that what was so profound about

that was the sacrifice it was for them to give anything to us at

all…..they had given up their weekly earnings to purchase

sodas because they knew Americans liked soda and had

walked miles to get them for us. They also prepared a meal

for the team. They, like the poor widow, understood true

gratitude and giving. Even though they practically had

nothing, they were thankful for what God had done. It made

a profound impact on not only me, but the entire team. We

ate everything. I remember even asking Steve in particular

about one item that was definitely raw and had not been

dipped in the water to be washed and said, “Will this make

us sick?” To which he said,” We’ll know in about an hour!” (I

will never forget that line)….because our hearts outweighed

any logic.

What I have learned throughout my life about “giving” and/or

“giving back”….is that it is always a matter of the heart.