Given Much

"When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence." ~ Anonymous

Of all the hymns this is the one that shaped my life the most. I didn't grow up with much but even then I knew that what I had I needed to share. Even if all I had was love, compassion, and kindness I would give it freely. The more life has given me, the more drive I have to give. As I see people suffering around me I do not understand the desire to hoard resources. I do not understand the desire to see someone in need, and knowing we (the collective we. Be that our city, congregation, state, church, country, organization, business, etc.) have resources turn them away.

As Luacine Clark Fox penned and I've sung hundreds of times*, "As I have loved you, love one another. This new commandment: love one another. By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." I may no longer be considered a disciple but the principle sticks. The message is good. As I look around at all that we have (some of us individually. All of us collectively-at least in theory.) these words ring more true than ever.

Some of us have money and physical resources. Give. Some of us have talents that could help another. Give. Some of us have room. Give. Some of us have fight and fire. Give. Whatever resource we are privileged to have, be that physical or otherwise. Give.

Give generously. Give because we're all in this together whether we want to be or not. We're all we have and when one of us suffers, we all suffer.

*Sweet memories of rocking my babies to sleep while singing this to them are flooding my heart.

Image description: Assorted rocks, shells, and sand faded in background. "Because I have been given much I too must give." Grace Noll Crowell. Artist watermark: Heroes and Art.

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