photo: CCO public domain
A definition of SHARE: to let someone else have or use a part of
something that belongs to you.
I have watched children play on playgrounds and be instructed to share.
It is basic for sure, but it doesn’t come easily to any of us no matter what our age.
No matter what our income.
Some times we need to share space
Others, we need to share hours of sleep.
Still others, we need to share money or time.
Many of us had to learn to share with siblings.
Then we married or had roommates. stop
We learned more aspects of sharing.
For those of us with children, we learned a new level of sharing when they arrived.
Not only did we have to share our things,
But our time, space, money, sleep, privacy and our whole life!
We vow we won’t be “those” parents, but we find that having children is more
All-consuming than we ever dreamed!
It is also delightful, stretching and brings about growth in ways we never anticipated.
Sharing is not always easy or comfortable. But it helps us learn to be generous with our resources. Share on XSharing is not always easy or comfortable.
But it helps us learn to be generous with our resources.
As we watch GOD provide for our needs.
Give, and it will be given to you.
Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,
will be put into your lap.
For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Luke 6:38
How are you sharing your life?
your resources?
that are all a gift from GOD?
We definitely learn a new level of sharing when children come along! But they are also such a blessing, aren’t they? 🙂 Great post! Blessings to you!
they are a blessing for sure! but i became aware of my selfishness in extreme ways when our first healthy child was born. i knew what to expect in some ways, but the exhaustion of childbirth and the extreme desire to sleep was overwhelming. when that first cry came that first night at home, it was all i could do to drag myself out of bed to feed her! in the months and years to follow, i was challenged many times to choose to meet the needs they had rather than to give in to my desires for comfort or recreation. i never expected to have to be faced with those choices so often. i expected to be overwhelmed with this romantic wash of mother love for my children that wasn’t quite as romantic as expected. of course i loved them very much, but in the nitty gritty of life, i also became very aware of my own weakness.
Me, too, Martha. Blessings!
I pray, well.
i’m sure it helps susan:)
So right Martha! Sharing is NOT easy or comfortable, but so necessary to living a Christ centered and other centered life. Learning to share also means we learn kindness. Forgive me, but my thoughts went to Donald Trump, and I wonder if he’s ever had to share anything… I know I’m sad, lol
i don’t have to go that far from home to find weakness in the area of sharing. i struggle often to share what i have, even with those who are in need. i find ways to justify my stinginess all the time! it is most distressing! sadly, i’m not responsible for donald trump, i’m responsible for me. it’s pretty scary at times Christy.
Ah yes… this reminded me of Jen Hatmaker and her dread for the coming summer! LOL! Oye with all the sharing! 😉 We are made for family and community and called to share our lives – which includes all of the things you mentioned – time, money, resources, love, etc! Great post!
yes, the sharing can sometimes become overwhelming can’t it? 🙂 may GOD’s grace enable us to share in new and special ways, kerrilee.
Martha, sharing is not easy or comfortable….such truth in those words. Great post!
thanks tara. blessings today.
“As watch God provide for our needs.”
I don’t know why it freaks me out a little when reading: the measure you use will be measured back to you. Like small isn’t enough for God if that’s what you give at times. If you buy something small but it is a lot for you, I feel like it isn’t enough, like he wants bigger.Maybe my perception is wrong. Or it’s the attitude behind it.
Thank you for sharing this, Martha. Now you have me thinking. 🙂 visiting from fmf.
nice to meet you julia:) small isn’t a big deal to GOD if that’s all you can give. look how Jesus lauded the widow who gave her tiny mite which was nothing compared to what the pharisees were giving…but percentage wise, it was huge. plus, their attitude was to wave around what they gave and be praised for it.
in this parable, Jesus’ point was that we can’t outlive GOD! whatever our standard for generosity, He will give back to us in a container where he shakes it down, pushes down what He is given back and overflowing it as He gives back/repays us for anything we give.
we still need to give in light of other wise teaching in the Bible…taking care of our families, etc. but our giving to GOD/mercy giving/caring for the poor, etc. is to be based on balance, a simple lifestyle vs. greedy one.
it’s just good to know that this principle of how we give is the measure that will be used to give back to us. are we stingy in our giving? that may be how GOD will give back to us. are we generous? that may be how He will give back to us. it’s not a rule, but more a statement of Biblical common sense.