Our farewell party was winding down, I was asked to come forward. Gilgal Bible Chapel (80 people tops on a Sunday morning) wanted to present us with a going away present. We’d lived among them for 5 years. We’d worked together, cried together, sweat together, laughed together, prayed together….God had done so many things in my life, it was like a spiritual “boot camp.” I was given an envelope which my friend John suggested I open before getting off the stage….inside I found a check for $4000.00 (which by the way is framed and sitting on my bookshelf)
I used to read verses from the Bible like this from the book of Acts:
“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common…..and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them….” Chapter 4 vs 32-34
and wonder why Christians today didn’t look like that. Imagine my delight when God moved us from Iowa to New Jersey, and ”planted us” in just such a church ..and now it was time to return to Iowa.
Our family lived in “Christian community” for 5 years. An experience like that is bound to leave a mark on your life. Twice during that period, someone gave us a vehicle when ours needed replacing- gave it…not a loaner…a gift. We’ve had people show up at our home with boxes of groceries, had a Christian landlord who knocked several hundred dollars a month off the rent because he knew our situation. My employer (Mark) was also an assistant pastors at the church. When it became obvious we were struggling financially, we met with Kurt, (a church deacon and accountant) Kurt said I could use a $2.00 an hour raise without a doubt. Mark said not a problem - plus he wanted to find a way to offer health insurance and give me a work vehicle to drive…because he saw his business as an extension of his faith.
Giving and receiving acts of Kindness has become such a part of the fabric of our life, I forget what it feels like to experience it for the first time.
Lest you think I’m just a big “mooch” 
We also opened our home for 3 months to an elderly lady whose own son was going to let her wind up on the street because she’d been so ornery over the years. I wrote more about that here She needed a place to stay and I wanted to work on being more assertive (figured if she was with us for an extended period of time then stuff was bound to happen.
I’m not going to give you any more stories from my life lest it sound like I’m tooting my own horn…let’s just say, I have no problem giving or receiving kindness, hospitality, and unconditional love…it’s just part of who we are as a family.
I’ve heard people say, “ I have no trouble helping someone else, but struggle to receive. ” To you I say, “It’s your pride, If God lays it on someones heart to help you, then you need to let them, because you deprive them of the joy that comes from helping someone else.”
What are some of the surprising ways people have encouraged you? How about ideas…do you have any suggestions (big and small ways) we can encourage someone else? My newest blogging friend Sharon, posted something recently on encouragement check it out.
Tags: Gilgal Bible Chapel West Milford NJ, hospitality, love, ministry
May 17, 2008 at 3:27 pm |
I know just what you mean Doug, I am a Missionary Kid, what can I say…my first bike, some of the clothes I wore, sometimes even the food we ate ‘cos my parents lived by faith (we definitely didn’t have trouble receiving). Without the giving/receiving, well… Christianity becomes nothing more than theology.
Thanks for this post. And thank you for linking to my blog.
May 19, 2008 at 5:46 am |
When my daughter was about 7 months old, my husband tore his ACL. A church member paid a youth who was saving money for a mission trip to mow our lawn every week that season. It benefitted us and the youth. It was difficult for me to watch this youth outside my house mowing my lawn when I was perfectly capable of doing it. However, after several weeks I realized just how nice it was not to have to worry about my husband hobbling around after our crawling little one while I was out mowing. It was a simple blessing, but MUCH appreciated.
May 19, 2008 at 11:08 am |
Oh my I have seen this lived out on a number of levels:
received a card with about $400 of grocery/gas gift cards
swapping child care
fixing cars
making dinners for the sick or moms with new babies or just somebody having a hard week
pitching in to buy a book for someone in our small group bible study who was having a hard time financially
a friend has organized a “community of recyclers” where we can advertise what we have to give away and request a need to see if someone else has it
When my husband was finishing his Master’s degree two days before I had my 3rd child in 3 years, our church hired a part-time sitter to come to the house and help since I had a c-section and couldn’t lift or do much for 2 weeks
May 21, 2008 at 10:35 pm |
Sometimes I think it’s probably easier to give this way to people that are like you and look like you….the challenge is to go beyond that …go beyond Christians and give to the human family at large.
Does it mean that if one isn’t within a Christian community one is out of luck?out of Grace?
May 22, 2008 at 10:55 am |
I’m one of those people who gives freely but has trouble accepting help. I can tell you it’s not about pride, it’s the lack of it.
It’s about not believing that I am worthy. It’s about believing that I have been so bad that even God can’t forgive me. I know that there are those that would say that is “pride” but it’s very powerful brainwashing. I doubt that victims like me can relate to pride in anyway. I think it’s more likely for us to begin to see the possibilites when the role of this kind of thinking has played in our victimization.
I’m saying this not to be argumentative but so maybe you might see in the future just where that person might be coming from. If you can relate to that, you’re more likely to be able to help them see there is a different perspective.
As for me I’m much better than I used to be but it’s a constant struggle.
May 23, 2008 at 8:35 am |
That is so beautiful. I can’t even imagine the feeling of receiving that money and what it meant to you.
I believe that giving to others is a gift to yourself. To share whatever it is that you have with another person is one of the best feelings one could have.
One of the most touching things that ever happened to me personally was when I was in Egypt, visiting the Mosques in Cairo. I was with an Egyptian male friend. We stumbled upon 4 peasant women who cleaned the Mosque. It was their lunch time. They sat on the ground outside in the shade eating their very simple lunch of pita bread and falafal. Seeing me though, they immediately brightened and invited me to join them and share their food. These women had nothing. Just one of the rings that I wore on my finger was probably more than all of them and all of their families would make in a lifetime. Yet, it was they who were generous to me. I wanted to cry…..
May 23, 2008 at 10:45 pm |
Ouch, that hurt. I’ve been too proud too often to want to accept kindness. Humility and vulnerability are not my strong points but should be.