Generosity – a reflection
I was reflecting this weekend on the word ‘generous’ or ‘generosity’, in the light of the wonderful response to our church’s request for financial support in these difficult times.
In my teens we used to sing a chorus ‘Freely, freely, you have received, freely, freely give’ – words from Matthew 10.8. Generosity is a liberating thing and during these times when we all feel life is very restricted, how wonderful to find something which frees us.
Proverbs 11: 25 says ‘A generous person will prosper: whoever refreshes others will be refreshed’. So even if we are required to stay indoors, or not meet with others to comply with other restrictions, we have the ability to free ourselves simply through the gift of generosity.
Generosity comes in many forms; financial support, forgiving a hurtful comment made in the heat of the moment, offering time to help or listen, anticipating others’ needs, going out of your way to help, checking up on people, being kind to yourself.
The bad news is that generosity requires effort and can take you out of your comfort zone. The good news is that the goodwill it engenders is contagious, blesses others and refreshes you tenfold.
A friend recently shared this beautiful poem with me:
This is the time to be slow,
Lie low to the wall
Until the bitter weather passes.
Try, as best you can, not to let
The wire brush of doubt
Scrape from your heart
All sense of yourself
And your hesitant light.
If you remain generous,
Time will come good;
And you will find your feet
Again on fresh pastures of promise,
Where the air will be kind
And blushed with beginning.
“
John O’Donohue
