July 2, 2011

Greetings My Friend,

I have a heart for the poor. I also struggle with giving to the poor. In my lifetime I have had people who were real poor who were close to me. There tends to be an attitude that I have and they should get.

I have seen where giving can harm people. I have people who are close to me that have been given and given and given to. They never seem to come out of their poorness and think that it is my job to hand over when ever a need/want arises. If I don't give....they tend to walk out of my life. They find a lot of fault with me.

I was reading the Bible in the Old Testament when the laws were being given to the Jewish people. I keep coming back to this and pondering it. The farmers were instructed to go through their crops once and then what remained was for the poor to come and glean. The poor had to harvest for themselves. I see in the book of Ruth that is what Ruth did. Ruth and her mother-in-law were both widows. They moved back to Israel and Ruth would go glean the crops of Boaz. Ruth was foreign born her mother in law was not. Ruth got up and gleaned the crops of Boaz. He eventually married Ruth.

As I think on this I read in the Bible in context of Jewish culture that the lame tended to have to work as well. They are out begging. I have often marveled to watch the homeless on the streets. They stand on a corner, offer to wash windshields at a traffic light, look for bottles to return etc. They work hard at sustaining themselves even if they live on the streets. So the lame in the Jewish culture in the Bible had their work cut out for them. I'm not advocating that the lame should have to beg for money. In Dad's and Mom's case when Dad had polio, Mom went to work and we lived off of a woman's salary which wasn't much in those days. The church helped us. Mom and Dad were grateful and when they were able to they started giving back. It was important to them.
God also wants us to be cheerful givers. He wants us to give because we want to give. For me, giving has been a huge blessing and I give because I want to. So if I don't want to give....well, it is my choice to some extent. God doesn't want me to give out of compulsion but out of love. I/we give to the church, to different organizations. We have also helped people in need. Many times though we don't give money. Sometimes we give clothes, furniture we were going to get rid of, dishes etc.

I remember money being very tight when my kids were small. So I learned to give of my time and talent. That was a huge blessing. As I gave of my time and talent I learned I was capable of many things. I gained more confidence in myself. I was a youth advisor and giving to those youth was a huge blessing. Mission trips also taught me many skills and I have helped people and people have taught me so much, those I was giving to. It is amazing.

Our church family here in VA has some senior adults who are on their own and are struggling to care for themselves. The church is coming togeather and helping these seniors out so they can stay in their home. That to me is amazing and wonderful and......WOW! I always see the church help with food when someone is very ill, maybe even shovel walks, fix windows etc. Our Minister is asking for us to come togeather as a church family to step beside these people who are in great need. That may mean going over and helping clean, care for them if they are unable to do for themselves along with bringing food, shoveling the walks etc.

As I settle in I am finding my niche. That to me feels wonderful. I remember when I retired I wanted to find my niche, to help, to serve. When I first retired I helped the Muslim women. I watched their children as their mothers learned English as a second language. I was hoping that Junior and I could do short term mission work...doesn't look like we will be doing that anytime soon. I struggle with the heat and have gotten very sick. Junior has the house to work on and it will be a few years till it is completed, so mission work is not on the agenda right now anyway.

I have started helping at the thrift store where the proceeds help the abused. I also have tried to reach out to my community and love the people within the community. Sometimes I give a ride, a friendship. That's another thing I've learned. Giving doesn't always have to be associated within a church. It is also giving of my time and talent to my community. It does not always have to be an organized church related program.

God wants us to give He challenges us to give. As I have learned to give, I find joy in it. I have been blessed. To be honest my giving is between me and God and if my heart is right then God knows my intentions.

May God bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you.

Love
Janet