“Gimme gimme gimme”, I smile so wide and so happy when I see my little girl trying to trot as fast as she can across the room with her arms fully extended and her fingers waving in her hands as if she is trying to grab what she wants before she even arrives. I see so many adults going through life in a similar fashion as well. Okay, I too sometimes run through life trying to “get” all I can. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with wanting, but there needs to be balance. I follow the discipline of Jesus Christ, or rather I try to, and Jesus taught that life is not just about wanting but also giving. Make no mistake Christians are not perfect. We can mess up just like the rest of the people in this beautiful world, but Jesus wants us to give. For me this is the season of Lent. This is a time when I give up things that I love as a sacrifice to show love, honor and respect for Jesus dying on the cross for me. Also at this time I try and renew my focus on giving. I give back at church by helping with fundraisers so that we can help those in need. I serve others instead of serving myself. I fast on days through this period to become closer to God. I know that might sound weird, but living in America we are constantly encouraged to gouge our stomachs to feel good. Personally by avoiding food I feel empty and hollow inside. Temptation creeps in to stuff my face, but I turn to God and ask for help and so my relationship grows through prayer (talking to God). God has so much to give, so much to share. But like I don’t just give my son a $100 when he wants it, God wants me to earn what he has to give so that I appreciate it. God wants us to be ready for the gifts he has for us so that we don’t ruin the gift or ourselves if we get it before we are ready. So God sent his son to come to earth and teach us, to teach us to love, to teach us to give more that we receive. For if we can learn the value of what we give to others and do it through love then we will become ready to receive the love and gifts God has waiting for us.
Luke 6:36-38
36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back."
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