The Art of Giving; How I Finally Learned How To Give

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Having lived in California the past number of years, I’ve had many the opportunity to learn how to give. There are people who are less fortunate almost everywhere I go. At the gas station, at the beach, coming up off the many freeway off ramps, outside various stores, restaurants etc. However until recently, and through many a trial and error, I have finally learned how to give. Let me explain…Have you ever attempted to give to someone in need but they rejected what it was you were offering either money or food? Did you leave wandering what their problem was because hey you were only trying to help and they were obviously in need? Well this has happened to me on multiple occasions. I would casually walk up to someone in need and offer money or food but the person I was offering to would decline and seemingly for no apparent reason. Now this doesn’t happen all the time I’d like to point out but it does seem to happen more often than not. So I would find myself walking away like what did I say or do wrong? Why would someone, apparently in need, decline help? I then thought of the experiences I was having as some kind of spiritual test from God on how to give. Each person I passed by in need is almost like God’s challenge for me to give and to give the right way. I finally came to the conclusion that the way I was giving must be totally wrong. It says in the bible that we are to give effortlessly almost without thought. The right hand should not know what the left hand is doing (Matthew 6:3). I took the opportunity to reflect on the way I was giving. I realized when I would offer help, I found myself asking the person in need, do you want money or do you want food and I would quickly and surprisingly would get an emphatic no for an answer. One day upon entering Trader Joe’s there was a man lying on the ground. He didn’t ask for anything and I didn’t offer anything. When I came out I saw a young woman who had purchased food in the store prepare and present the food to the person laying on the ground. Right there on the ground, plate fork the works. Wow, I was amazed! She did this for this man that she didn’t know, at least I doubt she knew, without any hesitation or thought. God was showing me, and anyone else who may have been paying attention, how to give. For a while I kept doing it my old way with the same old results as old habits are hard to break. Sometimes I felt the urge to be like the girl at Trader Joe’s and just give of myself like she did but then I would make some excuse like, they probably still won’t accept what I’m giving or I’ll look silly to people who may be watching. Fast forward months later me and a friend went to Costco for lunch. I ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza he got a hot dog and soda. I grabbed a table while he was attending to the soda and getting condiments for his hot dog. While sitting at the table I noticed a man less fortunate sitting two tables in front of me. He was by himself with nothing to eat. Without thought or hesitation, I ripped off a large piece of my pizza and slid the piece of pizza on the table directly in front of the man. He simply said thank you. I sat back down and realized I just learned the art of giving.