Give with a Cheerful Heart

The Bible teaches us that God loves a cheerful giver. We are supposed to give with a cheerful heart. Who comes to your mind when the term "giver" is spoken? Most likely, it is someone that you look up to or admire; someone you would love to mold yourself after.

The Bible also tells us that "it is better to give than to receive." Doesn't it feel wonderful when you are able to give something to others? There is no feeling in the world like giving. I am by no means the perfect Christian. I have lots of learning to do and I am as much a sinner as the next guy. However, I have always loved giving. My parents taught me to be a "giver" at an early age and I am truly thankful to them for their gift.

I think it is very important to not only give but to try to set an example for our children. My parents were a great example to me. I witnessed many examples of giving from my parents throughout my life. My mama is a very cheerful, optimistic person with a heart of gold. She was a foster parent to many children with disabilities when my siblings and I were young. She had four children of her own at the time (and my youngest brother, later), and she always had time for each of us. On top of it, she managed to find the time for each foster child as well. She didn't just have the "time" for us but she loved each of us, as well. She loved the foster kids as though they were her own, and showed each of them special attention and care. I don't think my mama ever realized the impact that she had on my life, as a result of her caring, generous spirit. Not only was she a foster parent, but she also volunteered in nursing homes when we were young. My siblings and I volunteered with her, as candy stripers. Although some of the elderly were a little scary to me (I was only four when I began), it was a great experience. It taught me that they are people, too, and need love as much as anyone, if not more. Many of them are lonely and have no one to visit with them. My mama still volunteers for many things. She cleans homes of the elderly, holds worship meetings for women in jail, mows the lawn for my grannie and fixes many things around her home, prepares meals for those that are ill, etc. The greatest thing about my mama is that she does not consider herself "godly." She doesn't feel that she is anything special; she's just doing what she knows is right and she does it because she enjoys helping others when they need help.

My mama and daddy were also volunteer EMTs when I was younger. They helped many people doing that. My daddy is a very happy, humorous person. He enjoys trying to cheer everyone up and make them laugh. He is very friendly and would do anything for anyone. If he is walking through a door and there is someone within thirty feet of the door, (or even just now getting out of their car to step inside), he will stand there and hold the door open for everyone, smiling and greeting them as they enter. He is very gentle and kind to strangers. He makes friends everywhere he goes. If I go visit him, and comment on something that he has, he'll say, "Well here, Angie, take that one. I can get another one." He is a very cheerful giver; it makes his entire day to be able to give to others.

I have always enjoyed giving, because of my parents' teachings. I feel very blessed to have been raised by such wonderful people that have made a difference in the lives of many people. I try to instill these values in my own children, as well. I would love nothing more than for my children to give with a cheerful heart and I try to teach them this through my words and actions.

I try to find unique ways to give, since I am not at all wealthy. I have always wanted to have money because if I had money, I would use it to benefit others that need it. I have many ideas for what I would love to do with the money, but unfortunately, my head is bigger than my pocketbook. In the meantime, I have had to be creative with my giving. When Thanksgiving 2008 rolled around, I felt very thankful for all that God had blessed me with. I had kidney surgery that year and began having more health problems, which made me reflect on life. In my reflections, I thought about everything that I have to be thankful for: an awesome, loving family, friends, roof over my head, and many other things. I felt so blessed but I also felt sad when I thought of others that are not as blessed. I figured there were many people that wouldn't even get to have a Thanksgiving, due to no family, home, friends, money, or whatever the case may be. Thinking about this made me really sad. I couldn't even enjoy Thanksgiving, knowing that there were others doing without. I had to change that.

My family and I were barely scraping by, living paycheck to paycheck, but I had to do something. I sold a few things on craigslist and set money aside here and there with a purpose. I was going to try to make a difference this Thanksgiving, if only for a couple of people. I posted an ad on craigslist, saying that I wanted to help two families that would otherwise not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. I received a response from many people, and obviously could not help them all, which saddened me, but at least I was able to help a couple of them. I had my boys help me make a Thanksgiving meal (turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry, homemade pumpkin bread, and homemade pumpkin pie) for two families. I had my boys go with me to deliver the meals, as well, so that they could be a part of the giving and learn what it is like to help those in need. The first home we went to was a badly run-down trailer home with nine children and four adults living there. A family friend had notified me that they were barely making it and would not be able to afford a meal this Thanksgiving. When they opened the door, they looked in awe when I told them someone had asked me to deliver this meal they had prepared for them (I didn't want them to know that it was me that had made it). The looks on their faces was priceless. When we walked through the door with the meal, the children began jumping up and down, laughing, saying, "Mommy, we get turkey! We get pie, Mommy!" I had tears in my eyes as I walked back to my car, and I said a little prayer that God would take care of them and allow them to have more Thanksgivings in the future.

The second home I went to was about 30 miles away, each way. This woman knew that I was the one that had made the meal, but she was very, very thankful. She thanked me again and again and hugged me, with tears in her eyes. She had recently lost her husband and had a teenage son. Their only car was broken down and they had no way of going to see family for Thanksgiving, and no money to fix the car. They weren't planning on celebrating this year, she said. I cried myself to sleep that night, knowing how sad and desperate some people's situations are and how one person can make a difference but people choose not to help, for whatever reason. Perhaps they have no money to help, or think they can't really make a difference or that they don't have the time. All it takes is a little effort and it could mean the world to someone.

The next day, I received a reply on craigslist to my ad (from the second woman that I had delivered the food to, on Thanksgiving Day). She replied for the entire world to see, saying that God had sent her an angel. She said that she had lost all faith in humanity until I showed up on her doorstep and now her faith has been renewed. She said I was a gift from God, making a meal for her and her son, driving so far each way, getting my four young boys out in the cold, and wanting nothing in return. What she didn't realize was that I received the greatest gift of all. Not only were my children learning to give, but I was forever touched by these people. They taught me to always be thankful for what I have and to truly desire to make a difference. Giving is the best gift in the world.