J.O.Y. was engraved on a pendant received upon high school graduation; and on the back was – Jesus; Others: Yourself. Thanks to a fire, the pendant is long-gone.The message? With me to this day.
It’s my hope the meaning of the message has grown with me as I’ve matured as a Christian and a human being.
How do we Give? Do we give for the right reasons?
A friend once queried another friend upon bailing someone out of home foreclosure the third time with nary a Thank you, “Have you ever thought you are interfering with God’s plan?”
Why do we give? To support one another? Or assuage our own egos? Sometimes it’s a hard call.
Matthew 6:2, KJV: Jesus says, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”
He doesn’t say IF you give, but When you give. Not Giving is never an option.
This season always reminds how wonderful it is that I am surrounded by silent givers.
Meet a few of my “Giving Heroes”:
GIVE TIME; TALENTS; SHOW YOUR CHILDREN WHAT GIVING MEANS.
Meet the Tim Capps Family of Greenbriar, Arkansas.
Lorie Capps goes out of her way to help others; and never saying a word about her good deeds, she is always sharing her time and talents to help others. Her husband, Tim, is a Firefighter AND Registered Nurse.
Their oldest son, Corbin is a student at Harding University and Cael is a student at Compass Academy in Conway.
GIVE FROM YOUR HEART
Ruth Langford of Conway, Arkansas Ruth, along with friend Jan Cunningham created a puppet ministry and have shared with children at Robinson & Center Church of more than 20 years. Dedicated to Giving.
GIVE OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS:
SHEILA PARSONS, also of Conway has shared her knowledge of Art with Art on the Green students for more than three years. She also volunteers, has given Art lessons to Southridge Residents for many years.
Brenda McClain is Gallery Director for Art on the Green, the art vortex for Central Arkansas. Her blog, brendamcclain.com tells about her life and experiences in the Entertainment Business as the former CEO for MPR, a Nashville, Tn. based Public Relations agency.
You will usually find her having a morning Starbucks in Art on the Green, reading the headlines on her iPad mini. She’ll be the one in black and if the sun is shining maybe even wearing sunglasses!