It is Better to Give than Receive – Wrong! Then I saw giving in action
Jake at 2
When I first heard, “It is Better to Give than Receive” I thought the person just had a slip of the tongue? I do that all the time. But, then, he said it again. “How can that be?” I thought. Well, after this grandmother story — I now knew why it is better to give than receive.
[easyazon-image-link asin="B004ZZ6LOA" alt="It is what it is. Ceramic desk plaque - or wall sign, 5" x 2.5", hand made in the USA, with a built in copper stand." src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5182ubM3fGL._SL160_.jpg" align="left" width="160" height="126"] When my grandson, Jake was about two, I started putting a small gift in a plastic, grocery bag on the fireplace for him. I would buy him a book or a small toy during the week and save it for him in the bag. If I didn’t put it in the bag when I bought it, I would sometimes forget to give it to him. A tradition born from forgetting. Not bad.
So, when Jake came over for a visit, I would open the door, and he would whiz by me and run directly to where the bag was waiting for him. He loved the surprise each time. Me, too.
[easyazon-image-link asin="B003LYQUY2" alt="Beach Rules Star Plaque Decorative Blue Sewn Wooden" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mi3Jm5MFL._SL160_.jpg" align="left" width="127" height="160"]Well, one day I went to Jake’s house and his mother bought a surprise for me and put it in a bag so Jake could give it to me. Great idea. I knocked on the door and Jake ran to the door first and was shouting, “It’s Nana. It’s Nana! Open the door. Open the door.”
Theresa opened the door and there was Jake jumping up and down and almost hysterical. I looked at Theresa and said, “What’s with Jake?”
“Oh, Jake has a surprise for you, Nana.” Theresa said.
“Really?” I said.
“Look Nana. Look Nana. See the bag. See the bag,” he said pointing and jumping up and down. This was too slow for him so he ran to the bag and brought it to me. “Open it. Open it now, Nana!” Jake screamed.
I thought the child was going to break a blood vessel. His face was red. His eyes were bulging. If he were 50, we would have dialed 911 and taken him to the emergency room for clear signs of cardiac arrest! “Okay, okay, give me the bag!” I shouted back. (Now my eyes were bulging, too!)
Apparently, giving me a surprise was much more rewarding for him than getting one from me every time he came over to my house. I opened the bag and behold there was an avocado that was ripe and ready to eat. Yum!
“WOW, thank you, Jake” I said and grabbed him for a big hug.
[easyazon-image-link asin="0310281318" alt="All the Promises of the Bible" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BJOrg7eDL._SL160_.jpg" align="left" width="104" height="160"]The Bible tells us that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and this story truly shows that verse holds true even for a two-year old. Some years later I tried to remember this story because God gave me a surprise when my plans did not work out the way I thought they should. I truly wished that I could say that I responded like Jake did and was excited and happy to receive God’s surprise gift for me, but I was not.
Eventually many months later I saw how God meant my surprise for my good, and was thankful for what had happened. My prayer is that the stories placed here will help you as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death with God there to carry you. And, one day you too will be happy that you passed this way.
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