More blessed to give than to receive

 Tree from Universal Studios Orlando

December 23, 2009 – not a favorite moment but an interesting post

My goal, just in case you're wondering, is to post a favorite moment for every day for one complete year. It's just a little project I'm working on to see how many of the moments required money, family, friends, etc. You get the idea.

Just some of the quotes that people left on my wall after that little status update:  

"I've been reading your favorite moments daily and they have made me smile...... :)"

"What a good way to count your blessings!"

"I love your favorite moments of the day. Reminds us of what is REALLY important. Good idea for all of us. Thanks for sharing."

My response to all that:  Wow, interesting to see how it's affecting other people too. Thanks for being a part of my life! Merry Christmas to all!

And now for the Favorite moment of the day: Christmas shopping for 2 children I don't even know. I hope they like their gifts.

                   “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Acts 20:35

                  I love giving things to others, especially when they don’t expect it.  It doesn’t have to be extravagant gifts, either.  Sometimes a smile, a hug, a listening ear is all someone needs to turn his/her life around.  I can remember when we were poor, just married college students who suddenly found out our family was growing to three.  I was scared, nervous and embarrassed.  It was not my plan.  I had always wanted to finish college before we started a family.  Needless to say, we had some hard times ahead.  We moved back home to live with my mom for a short while.  After Triston was born, I went back to school to finish my degree.  We found our own place but not without struggles.  We’ve had cars repossessed, power turned off because we couldn’t pay the bill, and lived off of popcorn and Ramen noodles.  We were blessed a few times with boxes of food from friends and family at times when I didn’t know what we were going to do.  We have survived all those hard times and are now in a position to bless others.  It is definitely much better to be on the giving end of that situation.  Having been in both positions as giver and receiver, I do get a bigger blessing out of giving than I did receiving.  Sometimes our pride gets in the way of receiving a blessing.  I know it did for me.  But to give to others, when they need it or when they don’t, gives me a feeling I can’t express.  I wish I could help more but I know that day will come.  Right now, I just do what I can, with what the Lord blesses me, and I use it to bless others.