WE WENT A LITTLE CRAZY THIS YEAR

BY STEVE DUNN

I confess.  Dianne and I went a little crazy this Christmas.  Our adult children and their families live in four different cities in the Midwest and we live in Pennsylvania.  The combination of work, small and school age children, busy lives, and now two adult grandchildren made it impossible for us to gather together for Christmas.  (Most years we can only get two of those families together anyway).  Since I have just finished a transition interim pastorate, we actually had the freedom to take two weeks and visit them all in their homes.  

We also had a little more money than usual at this time and the thought of watching them open their presents, Kohl's availability and bonus bucks, and my wife's newfound love of on-line shopping meant that we had a completely full trunk when we headed west--full of presents. (We actually had to stack our suitcases on the back seat). The scene on this post is just some of the aftermath of what will actually be four " Christmases" by the time we are finished December 26th.

But part of it was also a commitment I made to the Lord to be a person who practiced generosity.  So much of the time, our sometimes tight finances had caused to hold back when God was prompting me to go the second mile.  And also to understand how little people experience generosity that those

"unexpected" acts of generosity often are an incredible encouragement to people who feel unnoticed, unappreciated, and uncared for.

Waitpersons have had tips above the 20% (why quibble about the 50 cents that rounds the tip to the next dollar?)  Generosity has led me to listen to what people need at this time and understanding that I am part of the provision.

"You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us." - 2 Corinthians 9:11"  This is a promise that has reinforced what God was speaking into my heart.  In our generosity, God produces thanksgiving in its recipients.  Hopefully, that thanksgiving will remind them that God cares because one of God's people care.  Generosity is rooted in God's blessing to us and that generosity allows us--no encourages us to be the blessing we are blessed to be

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

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