To be able to bestow an act of kindness to someone, there must be a willing receiver.
I was recently struck by this thought. It is so true.
I’ll admit it isn’t easy for me to be a receiver. I’d rather be on the giving end. Oh, I like gifts and all. It’s just when it comes to someone going above and beyond or doing a random kindness, I feel guilty or that I am a bother or “they don’t need to do that.” Yet, when it comes right down to it, that kind of attitude is selfish. You can’t do something for someone if they won’t receive it.
While I believe in self-sufficiency and not just being a taker, learning to become a thankful receiver plays an important role in life too. I like my children to learn to give. And I’m thankful for the receivers. Giving moves me beyond me. Giving helps me carve away at my selfishness that comes from wanting to hang on to everything and call it mine.
Isn’t it interesting that I can be selfish in two seemingly different ways? By wanting to clutch and keep, instead of give. And by being too proud to want to receive.
If I can not learn to be a gracious receiver, I think it poses a greater problem. How will I believe in God’s word and receive His salvation and His grace? If I can not be a humble, thankful receiver, will I truly be able to humble myself before God and receive His gift of eternal life? If I clutch at self-sufficiency and pride, where is there room for grace and brokenness?
And I am beyond thankful for the grace of my Lord and Savior. I am beyond thankful that He came and GAVE His life for me. I am so glad to receive this gift of love from Jesus.
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So true, hard, but true! What did you receive? =)
I’ve been blessed so many times by kindnesses and friendships.
I was actually reflecting on someone who is hard to do things for when I wrote this. 🙂
So true! Sometimes it’s hard to find the right balance between giving and receiving. You said it so well.
So true. Through sad circumstances our family has been the receiver of much generousity. God’s blessings, particularly through the hands of others, just astound me. And when we whisper “I am NOT worthy”, He replies “I know”.
I’ve been working on a Bible study and the heart of it is (very much in my own words) how much it is God in everything we do and in our relationship with Him in comparison to it being anything we do. He saved us and He seeks to have a relationship with us. It has made me reflect so much on how hard I try when I really need to rest and rely. It is hard to wrestle around the difference in my mind completely. 🙂
This post encouraged me, Deborah! It is hard to always be on the receiving end, but, I must realize that this is the plan God has for me. I pray that I might be a channel of God’s blessing flowing through me to bless others. My giving to others is often in the form of intercessory prayer, and though sometimes that doesn’t seem like much, really it is the best I can give.
It has been impressed on my heart the last few months the concept of how important prayer is in everything. Small things and big things and things in between.
Intercessory prayer is such a gift. I’ve also felt compelled to the importance of asking for prayer from others. You may feel it is the best you can give, but I think it is the best of all. I can do an action for someone and it can be more about me looking good than because of my heart for that person. When I pray for someone, I am wholeheartedly caring about their situation.
There are times when I am disgruntled about my housework that needs done and I think of you and I know you would gladly go about the tasks of home and I readjust my attitude. You are an inspiration and God does use you to bless others.