It is better to give than to receive, so the saying goes which we try to practice as much as we can. Whenever there is a big harvest in the garden, we never forget to share with our neighbors and friends as well. Sometimes we get to think that it is like throwing away because our neighbors do not reciprocate our kindness. We feel that they are selfish as to have everything for themselves. There is no civic spirit here. But my husband disagrees with that notion because as far as he is concerned, what we give to the neighbors come back to us in some other way like my increased salary or bonuses or graces coming from abroad. Do you believe that generosity begets graces?
I've always felt that way. My gramps, bless his ornery soul, used to say "Ya gits back wut ya puts out". Share your blessings, and you will be blessed. Share things mean and evil, and you will reap meanness and evil.
Yes, Corie, I agree with Ike, that we are more blessed by giving than receiving! It is the spiritual principle of reaping what we sow. God loves a cheerful giver!
Yes, I've always given without expecting anything in return, I don't even think about it coming back in other ways. I have always been generous, it's part of my personality.
@Corie Henson I think if your neighbors are growing crops that you'd like a share of, you should probably let them know you'd like some, and see how that goes. Maybe mention it would be great to share. Reciprocity is a wonderful thing, especially when it keeps the bills down with decreased grocery purchases. I consider generosity a different subject, and I enjoy giving without expectation of getting in return. Many claim to enjoy giving, but it's a different sort of giving, the kind where they get a tax write off, or go on to brag about it online or to their family and friends, to pump themselves up socially. I prefer to just do it, in the hope that it will improve someone else's life. Sometimes it's nice to just give and not know the end result, because then we can imagine a positive result. Even if we give to a charity and later find out those funds were embezzled or something like that, it's the generosity that matters, not how that person managed the funds/items. I do sometimes get overwhelmed with my situation, because I have helped many in my lifetime, without receiving much help in return now that I need it, but I try to remind myself that there's no balance sheet. I don't let the lack of help stop me from giving, and despite my current circumstances, I still really enjoy giving when I can.
Yeah, real giving is giving without reservation or expectation. The word "cheerful" in the Greek, is from a word meaning "hilarious"...so God loves a hilarious giver. Be so generous, it makes you laugh! Giving something away, is not the same as if it is stolen from you.
@Diane Lane, I know it's wrong to expect something in return. But my point is the selfish attitude of those people. It's not only us who are generous here, there are other people in the neighborhood who are selfless not only in material things but also giving their time just to help. But some neighbors are so selfish that they don't even offer anything to those who come to their house to help. Like some years back when our place was flooded, we saw some guys helping a neighbor clean their yard of the mud. After the cleanup, we have the guys who were leaving that the home owner did not even give them a drink. But anyway, I have to agree that when you give, it should be from the heart.
Well, I am a believer in Karma and in what goes around comes around. Even though you may not feel rewarded by your neighbors at the time..it may come back to you in other ways down the line. It is always good to give with a cheerful heart,,because when you start keeping score it leads to problems. I am not preaching here, because I am more like you are actually, but I know it is better to give with no expectation.
We give to our family at Christmas and my wife has given something for Christmas to co-workers at her job. Sort of funny, when we took our little vacation to Orlando/Disney World this past June, before we left Orlando, we stopped at a couple of souvenir stores and my wife bought each of her co-workers a t-shirt. Only 5 co-workers, so I didn't make a beef about it. Two years ago, we made Christmas trees out of pine cones to send to family, give to neighbors and the Office Staff at our apt. complex. This year we will be making sand décor out of 1800 Tequila bottles. Whatever Halloween candy we have left over, I give to Office Staff. That is, if we are at home on Halloween night to give candy out. We are both Diabetic II, so we can't eat any left-over candy. As for myself, before I met my wife, I was really not a "giver". I never contributed money to anything because I never made a good enough salary to do that. I became estranged from my step-parents, so I never sent them anything for birthday's or holiday and they never sent me anything.........which was ok with me.
I know what you mean. There are people here in my neighborhood who take freely again and again when things are offered, but never do anything in return. I am not able to give much of anything tangible, other than a few things I'm looking to get rid of, but I am happy to share of my knowledge and of myself. I had a set of neighbors going through a CPS (Children's Protective Service - when neglect or abuse is suspected, they are the government agency that steps in and reviews the home and people in it, to see if the children should be removed) investigation. I helped them out with regard to putting them in touch with an online group dealing with false accusations (I knew these allegations were false), a therapist I know, and also gave them help with child care, emotional support, and other helpful information. I've also helped them out with house and pet sitting over the years. I don't understand the people who take and take and never give. We have one here who's had at least 3-4 GoFundMe campaigns over the past year and a half or so and is always crying poor mouth, yet has numerous vehicles of various sorts, and has been on several expensive vacations during the same time frame. I just don't get it. What I meant by my post is that it might be helpful to separate the two issues, and make one more like a reciprocal business deal @Corie Henson. That way, you can give and get, and not feel taken advantage of, while still being able to help others in different circumstances.
Almost forgot to mention this...... If we have something we don't need anymore, we take it to the Goodwill down the street from us. When we got rid of our old King size mattress, we called the Salvation Army to come and get it. When we lived in an apartment in CO, the trash bin was right across the drive from us. Some people put some brand new/never been opened Christmas decor boxes both along side the bin and inside. A 7 1/2 ft. artificial Christmas tree, almost brand new was sitting there as well. We took it all and used it in a house we were about to buy. After a couple of years, we took it all to local Goodwill. I just can't believe what people throw away instead of donating!
This is an experience of my husband. When they have an affair in the office, he would be the unofficial photographer. After the affair, he would edit the video such that it becomes a short documentary with subtitles for the names and scenes. And then after burning the video clip to the CD, he would give away the CD. Yes, for free so you can expect that almost everyone would ask for the CD. But there was a time he saw 2 CDs left near the trash. It looked like those 2 persons asked for a CD and then had forgotten all about it. The boss of my husband suggested that he sell the CD instead of giving it away for free. At least those who would buy are only those interested. And that has been a good one. At least there is no wasted CD.
Your use of the word "affair" made me smile, Corie. I usually think of an affair at the office as two people having sex when they shouldn't. Here, if your hubby recorded the affair, the guilty party would pay big bucks for that CD or maybe the poor wifey at home would want a copy to use in the divorce. Sorry, Corie....I couldn't help it. I LOVE the way you write and enjoy all your personal stories.
Oh, yeah, I didn't think of that "affair" thing. You also gave me a good laugh by pointing that to me. I should be using occasion, it that more apt? This reminds me of a tryst in the first office that I got employed with. But that's another story, hahahaaah.