photo: © Dmitry Naumov – Fotolia.com

“Now it’s her turn.”

“Susie, when the timer rings, it will be your turn.”

“OK, now, it’s time to give your little brother a turn.”

 

These are early lessons we all have to learn…especially if we had siblings. If we didn’t, we may have had the luxury of putting off learning this skill until we went to school…which only made it more difficult!

But it was a difficult lesson for all of us.

For those of us who were the oldest in our families, having that next sibling was an adjustment. We may not remember it. Our parents may have even glossed over it…ignoring those pats to the head or that roughness we showed, as childishness rather than some of the ire we felt at being displaced.

Of course, different personalities handle it differently. And for some, their time in the limelight was very short-lived, but the fact remains, we don’t naturally love sharing…whether it is attention or tangible items.

Sharing attention or toys…both are difficult to learn

We don’t enjoy sharing attention. We want it all. The older we get the more we may adjust to life’s realities. We may have realized that the attention we would like will not come our way.

So we find different ways to get it. But that is a different story for another day.

For today, we are discussing how difficult it is to learn to share. It makes no difference whether it is attention, time, toys…we all have to learn how to do it. STOP

Some of us find sneaky ways to distract others from realizing how we aren’t sharing. Others entertain while they don’t share. Others share to the point of wearing themselves out, maybe even depleting their own resources.

Learning to share ourselves or our things with joy also takes growth

It seems that in our broken world, we rarely do it well. And even more rarely do we share with a joyful heart. Most of us in the US, by the standards of the world, are wealthy.

Yet we find ways to hold our stuff and our resources to ourselves. We are saving them for the future instead of using them now when they are needed.

As I write this, I am personally challenged to dip my toe in the pool of generosity and share with people within just a couple of miles from my home. The school where my grandchildren attend has many children affected by poverty of resources…often financial…but also enriching.

But I have resources I can share and I want to conserve my time so I can have my precious “leisure” time. It means so much to me.

Will GOD be impressed when I stand before Him? I don’t think so!

At this point in my life, I have plenty of leisure time! My time is not backed up with multiple events like it was when my kids were home and I worked in addition. I can find a way to mentor a student.

The truth is I’m feeling stretched at the thought of it. I’ve never done anything like it before.

I guess I’m going to have to take another jump off that scary diving board…into the pool that is so outside my comfort zone…you know the one where growth happens everytime!

Where do you need to take the plunge and share yourself?

#FellowshipFriday#44