What I had learned as a child and experienced first hand has changed the course of a little Mexican girl’s life forever….
I remember as a little girl I learned the principle of giving so early in life. My mom, my older sister and I moved to Laredo, TX from Dallas when I was in the third grade. My parents had divorced and my mom was having a hard time just keeping a roof over our heads. We lived in a small home across from the elementary school. We only lived there for a short time and again my mom couldn’t afford to pay the rent. My Grandpa decided the best thing for us was to buy us a trailer and literally put it in his back yard for us to live. He was so opposite of my mom and my loving and compassionate giving Grandma. I loved my Grandpa dearly but I saw in him what I didn’t want to be or become. What I did learn from him was the principle of borrowing money and paying it back. If I didn’t pay him back what I borrowed from him, I learned very quickly he wouldn’t lend me money again until the debt was paid in full. What I learned from my beautiful Mexican Grandma was her kind loving spirit. She had a special love for God and her ability to love people where they were at and to give without ever expecting anything in return. One of my fondest memories was when I needed money for school and I knew my mom could not give me anything. I remember calling my Grandma to see if she could lend me five dollars until I could pay her back. She told me to meet her at the back of the house at the window facing my trailer. I remember seeing her cut a slit in the screen of the bathroom window. She folded a five dollar bill and slid it through the screen. I was a little short at the time and I just waited for the money to fly out of the window and on to the ground for me to pick up. She would always shut the window, wink at me and put her finger on her lips as to say don’t tell Grandpa. This was one of the greatest memories I have as a 10 years old child and probably the greatest lesson of the gift of giving. I remember my life as a child was not always pleasant but where there was love there was GOD.
I love to give and it took sometime for me to truly understand the true gift of giving. The true gift of giving is when you have the ability to give without ever expecting anything in return. God has a way of giving us clues along the way through life and if you are looking for the opportunity to give you will see it. If you are not even open to the possibility of what if ?? You will miss it and truly never experience the joy of giving and changing a life forever. What I have learned from giving is not only do I have the chance to change the day but I have the opportunity to change a life forever. I have been there, I know this first hand and I am blessed and humbled to see what God has done with me. This is truly one of those roads less traveled……
8. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Romans 12:8 (New Living Translation)
