How
difficult is it to share with others?
It
seems my generation was very quick to learn that the more you have, the more
people would respect you. My husband and
I recently had a conversation with another couple and we were discussing the
values of our children’s generation and comparing them to our own. We seemed to have picked up from our parents
the drive and determination that hard work pays off. We didn’t live through the Depression Era and
we haven’t experienced food or gas rations.
We’ve been very, very blessed with good lives. A lot of people I know have at least one
home, 2-3 cars; they either have a cottage, or vacation property, or take at
least one big vacation each year.
But
the generation of the 20-somethings, they are more about minimalism. They want less and are able to pursue life
with less stuff. Just look at the “Tiny
House” movement. But have you noticed
all the self-storage facilities? At
least in the area I live, many people cannot even park in their garages because
they have so much stuff. There are
indoor storage facilities to protect stuff from the weather elements. What is it that we are keeping and accumulating?
When
I asked myself the question, “How difficult is it to share?” I had to admit –
not always easy. I can share my “stuff”,
in fact, I enjoying sharing what I have.
But what I was convicted of most, was sharing my time. I have discovered that while I joined in with
a lot of people in hot pursuit of stuff, I have found that the commodity of
time is very precious. And it is very
difficult for me to give up the time I use for myself to spend time with
others.
Springtime
is a great time to clean out what you don’t need. Why lock it away in a facility and never use
it? Why not share it with a needy
family? You’d be surprised how many
people don’t have a dining room table, or a bed to sleep on. And while you’re at it, help someone who is
lonely and play a game of chess with them. David
reminds us that generosity towards others expresses our gratitude toward God.
