give it up

in his book, jeff shinabarger writes that when others are generous, we want to talk about that generosity. not because we know that person would be happy we did and not because we're trying to brag about the gift we received - but because generosity is contagious and astounding and when someone shows you generosity it's exciting.

last night the family i've worked for for three years gave angel and i the most beautiful engagement gift (i didn't even know that was a thing!). and more than the gifts and what they represented, was the beautiful card. i was crying reading it. i emailed pictures of the gifts and card to my parents and my best friends and thought about how much i love hearing and telling stories of generosity.

when my family was here over christmas, we were leaving a restaurant when there was a homeless guy sitting with all his belongings, holding a sign facing the front door. my dad is sort of known for his "guess how much cash is in my pocket" games with his kids and sometimes with homeless people. so he gave angel $100 and told him to play the game with the homeless guy. either way, the guy was going to get a hundred bucks - but he didn't know that played the game anyways. when angel handed him the money and shook his hand and said merry christmas, i watched that guy's entire look change.

it's all about perspective, right? $100 to my dad isn't a game changer - but for this guy it shook everything. i was on the train a couple weeks ago and there was a guy i see every couple of weeks and this time i felt strongly like i was supposed to give to him. i told myself i'd give whatever was in my wallet and pockets and found ten bucks. i handed it to him - game changer. not mine - his. 

shinabarger also talks about how if we surround ourselves with need, we'll desire to want to meet needs. if we surround ourselves with overflow, we'll want that overflow. and if we surround ourselves with generous people, we'll want to be generous. 

i have the best examples of generosity in my life - from my parents and family, to my fiance and employers. and i'll say - i long to be generous.