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Generosity and healing

Generosity and healing

Anne Lamott tells us that being generous is the ultimate healing (page 21 Help Thanks Wow). I have been thinking a lot about that. I may quibble over whether or not generosity is the ultimate healing; but that said, Ms. Lamott has helped me recognize that being generous goes a long way in furthering the healing process.

I remember a story a friend of mine told me that whenever she was feeling financially strapped, she developed a practice of making a rather large financial gift. It was an act of generosity. And she said it went a long way to healing her fear of scarcity.

Generosity is a form of gratitude. Generosity can bring us beneath the fears and anxieties of scarcity, resentment and fear – to the faith that with God we will always have enough.

Join me in reading and discussing Anne Lamott's new book, Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, during the season of Epiphany & Gratitude (January 6 - February 12, 2013).

Comments

God loves a cheerful giver. I was raised in a financially poor family, I lived with my grand parents in the Caribbean on a tiny island called St.Vincent and the Grenadines. My grand parents cared for seven other grand children besides myself. We all had our responsibilities at farming and caring for the animals, Goats, Sheep, Cattle, Pigs and Chickens with our grand father. Making a long story short, at the end of the day, my neighbor hood had food to eat because my grand parents would always have some form of vegetable or provision to hand out to our neighbors, especially the elderly.There was no money to go around but there was food. love, kindness, concern and care. They all showed appreciation. A generous giver can give of himself/herself in different ways, whilst it comes from the heart. Our father in heaven sees it all. We are repay in so many ways-joy and satisfaction of see the smile on others face and others helping us in return. Now as an adult,when I am down in spirit, I would pick myself up and volunteer in a soup kitchen in my neighbor hood. I formed a group of caring people from the church that I attend and some from the neighbor hood. We all pool money, buy groceries take it to the Shelter and cook it then share it out and eat with the less fortunate. I do agree with Ms. Lamott. God loves you and you to Bishop.

When we let go of stuff such as "how will I" "what happens if" and "can I" than we open ourselves to the wonders of life. It took me a long time to have the generousity to give of myself as family and my home to a dog. Venus is a rescue and she is an older dog and now a vital part of our family who helps show me the wonders of God each day. If I had not been generous to offer myself and home to Venus I would never have received so many gifts God offers to me through her. Venus was adopted during the time my sister Barbara was dying from cancer and I have the memory of seeing Barbara kissing the adoption picture of Venus. This is healing.

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