(For Saturday August 2) Today was a culmination of the generosity of my sister-in-love's parents, Jim and Vicki.  The wedding, the reception, the logistics of it all, and today an open house reception at their lovely home to continue the celebration of Brad and Adele's marriage.  Not only have they been extremely generous but hospitable, which I have mentioned before .  Their generosity has been a blessing to not just the bride and groom and their immediate families but to all the family and friends who joined us this weekend.  I am so grateful for the generosity I was the recipient of this weekend, I'm also grateful for the generosity of others in my life who extend themselves on behalf of my comfort, my joy, my benefit.  What a beautiful investment in the lives of others when we, yes me included, extend generosity.  In what ways have you been blessed by both giving and receiving generosity?

At my work Christmas party tonight one of the employees gave a talk, and showed a video, about generosity.  The video was really thought provoking and the comments my fellow co-worker made about generosity got me to thinking about how grateful I am for people in my life who are generous with me.  They are generous with their grace toward me, with their love, with their counsel, with their time, with their possessions, with their own hearts, and there are other ways people in my life are generous toward me. How blessed I am, how grateful I am for people who care enough about me to invest in to me.   On the flip side, I am grateful for the ways in which God calls me to be generous and for the times when I actually heed the call. :)   Here's the video, what are your thoughts about it?  (Yes, it's a couple years old but still relevant.)

You should not buy anything that you are not willing to give away.   Unknown On the surface today's quote seems to be about that favorite topic of mine - not hoarding and not having clutter in your home.  On the surface I suppose today's quote is partially about that BUT I'd like to go deeper than the surface.  (Shocker eh?)   Today's quote to me speaks of  generosity  and  selflessness  or selfishness.  Are you willing to bless or gift someone else with what you just purchased?  It could range from a cup of coffee to groceries to paying an overdue utility bill to fill in the blank .  And if you aren't willing to, why not?  What stops you?  Is it your own financial state?  Is it not being able to take the person's need at face value?  Is it simply that you are feeling selfish (because whether we admit it or not we all do feel selfish more than we would like to recognize)?  Does your generosity have a "ca...

People are often unreasonable, illogical, And self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you Of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some False friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank; People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God It was never between you and them anyway. Mother Teresa