What can one lady do? (fourth and final in a series on Generosity)

What can one lady do? (Part 4 on generosity)

She walked into the huge old basement room, where the preacherman was addressing quite a large gathering of street people. As she looked around, most of the folks looked about like she had expected—worn and tired, in some cases, dirty and smelly—but she was
surprised at how many were there! Surely, not all these people were from Long Beach . . . where had they all come from?

Funny thing is—she was looking around the room, trying not to stare, trying to decide where to stand, where to look, and then she noticed
something—they were looking at her too! No one in the room resembled her! Older, (sorry, MJ) conservative-looking, proper white woman---‘What’s she doing here?’ You could read their minds.

I kept my eye on her, making sure she was doing okay, as Pastor Fred finished his morning message, and people began getting up and moving
around. She turned, ‘What should I do?’ she asked me, with raised eyebrows. ‘Talk to them—go ahead. Look into their eyes, smile, ask if you can pray for them.’ Now
I could tell that last suggestion was way out of her comfort zone, but
it didn’t matter; she swallowed hard, and set out on her own. A little while later, I walked up as she was praying with a man and his sick wife—what a privilege to witness.

When we got to the car, she said, ‘It was amazing! Meeting them, talking to these poor folks, but especially praying for them.’ ‘Yes, and MJ, you did it! Though you were a little nervous about it, you did it!’ She smiled at me, and said through a dimpled smile, ‘I did, and it felt good.’ What had she done? She gave of herself to bless other people.

In the context of our current discussion on generosity—she gave of her time and her talent. It didn’t stop there. From that day forth, MJ has had a heart for the street people in Long Beach. She prays regularly for them, and also for the homeless she sees in her hometown, San Clemente. ‘I’ve got to give them something—something besides money,’ she reasoned with herself, and came put with a plan. MJ assembled some little bundles to give to those holding signs on the off-ramps--peanuts, raisins, crackers, water, juiceboxes, etc., all
wrapped in a tidy package, which she has given with a warm smile. Time, treasure, and talent.

That’s not all . . . wanting to be of further service, she took some classes at her church, and now takes communion to hospital patients and
shut-ins. Why? Because she wants to give of
herself, to ‘love the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind and strength,
AND love her neighbor as herself.’ Way to go, MJ!

Speaking of my street friends, most don’t have two quarters to rub together, but they can still be generous. The Duke of Earl volunteers at the Senior
Citizens’ Center, using his brawn to lend a hand. On some occasions, he even dances with the old gals when asked. He does whatever he can to make himself useful. Popeye runs the overhead projector for the worship portion of his Sunday service. Steve uses his painting and fix-it skills to serve his church.

Robin arranges for meals for those who are infirmed; Judy and Kathy compile prayer requests and send them out via e-mail for many to pray! Where and who are you serving with your time and your talent, besides your immediate family? There are school-aged children who need to be tutored, and folks dying to learn to speak English…really, the possibilities are limitless. Hmmm . .
. something to think about. Giving of your time and talent brings so much joy, Friends! And besides that, it brings praises to God, as those who receive thank him.

No doubt, Ken Blanchard* challenged me with his list of four arenas of generosity—time, talent, treasure, and touch. So, one final thought on generosity—there are those who desperately long for human touch. There are babies that need to be held and rocked, widows, widowers, and homeless people who would love to be hugged, spouses who can’t remember
the last kiss from their mates, teenagers who push folks away, though
like the others --- need to feel the warmth of an embrace. And so to you I say,

“Be the hug, Baby.”

Ask God to grow you into a generous person who shares his touch, treasure, time and talent with the world. Come on….we’ll change the world!

Christine