5 Ways to Choose Generosity
I was heating the grill to cook steaks when our son-in-law pulled in unexpectedly with one of our grandsons. We had two extra steaks in the fridge. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to choose generosity.
I had plans for those extra steaks that didn’t include others.
I had a moral crisis. Choose generosity or cook hotdogs. Either choice is acceptable.
I looked at my wife and said, “Let’s be generous.”
We went out to welcome our guests. I asked, “Have you had dinner?” You know the answer to that question.
I said, “We have a couple extra steaks in the fridge if you would like steak.” They thought that would be great. By this time the grill was hot. I watched my future dinner sizzle for someone else.
5 ways to choose generosity:
#1. Choose your best self.
Do things that would make your momma proud.
Greed, fear, and discontent block generosity. Commitment fuels generosity.
#2. Consider higher purpose.
It’s hard to feel close to stingy people.
Generosity strengthens relationships.
#3. Act responsibly.
Don’t give something that belongs to someone else. Pay your bills before you give money away.
#4. Don’t encourage helplessness.
Don’t repeatedly bail out people.
A young person asked me about loaning money to people who don’t pay it back. I said, “The next time it happens say no but tell them you’d be glad to help them create a budget.”
Generosity that enables irresponsibility isn’t helpful.
#5. Think beyond money.
Time is your most valuable asset. You are your greatest gift to others.
Go ahead and have coffee with someone who wants to talk.
Afterward:
Generosity did more for us than it did for them.
Still curious:
Generosity Makes you Great and Much More
What Is Generosity? (And How to Be a More Generous Person)
Thanks so much for a generous dose of ways to help us achieve a higher moral ground!
Thanks Gerry. Glad to be of service.
We can’t have too many reminders we are called to be good, kind, and generous towards others — but never a doormat. Dan — I appreciate you daily. Thank you.
Thanks Mary. I don’t know about others. But I sure need reminders. Someone said, we don’t need to learn something new. We need to be reminded of what we already know. (I have no idea how close to accurate that quote is.)
Is there another lesson here?
You didn’t offer them the choice of steak or hot dog.
Four of my five grandsons would have chose the hot dog option.
Good point, Paul. Nothing wrong with hotdogs.
Loud message today! Thanks for being generous with your words and thoughts Dan. Great reminder.
And pay it forward. When money was tight in a hard season of our life, we were on the receiving end of very generous people…but now, we are able to help others and do so gladly and with humility. Thank you for your generosity in sharing your thoughts each day.
This is so good. Generosity strengthens relationship. Not to mention deepens my own gratitude, for what do I have that I haven’t first received? Whatever I have that may be shared is a gift from God. And yet, like you, I also find myself conflicted sometimes – not wanting to be generous, but it’s the right choice. Every. Time.
So clear, so balanced, avoiding those errors that seem to work in pairs, in this case, Stinginess and Enabling. Thanks again!