We are witnessing the good side of humanity as corona virus is sweeping the world. People are showing selflessness. Some have paid the ultimate price, dying in the line of duty while trying to help the sick in different health and work settings.

This week we continue to focus on giving, why we give and how in turn it helps us to live fulfilled lives.

UK Captain Tom Moore, 99, has shown us how it is done. Having set a challenge to walk 100 laps of his garden before turning 100 on 30 April 2020 he surpassed it. Finishing ahead of schedule and raising over £20 million for the National Health Service.

He has shown us that where there is a will there is a way.

He has also challenged perceptions: that age is not an excuse.

Why we give

‘Blessed is the hand that giveth, than the one that taketh’, so the saying goes.

‘Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down , shaken together, and running over, will be given to you’, (Luke6:38).

• We give so that we receive blessings.
• We give because some of us believe that by giving we attract blessings in one form or the other. Doors and opportunities may come from least expected places and sources, not necessarily from the person/s we help.
• We help others go the extra mile because we have experienced such love in our lives before where someone has done something for us.

Its like being given a second chance and some people show their appreciation for life by helping others. They want their life to be meaningful therefore they do this by showing love and compassion to others.

• We give because it is fulfilling.
• We feel good afterwards.
• We do stuff because it is the right thing to do.
• We dont do stuff to get praise and honour but because it is the right thing to do.
• We give because we feel it is our responsibility to do so.
• You dont need approval or someone to agree with you as long as you know you are doing what you need to do.

We give because we can afford to.

What to give

Some of us come up with excuses about why we cant do certain things but there’s lots we can do.

As Captain Moore has demonstrated age is not excuse. Ask yourself :

• what can I do?
• What can I give?
• How can I help?

If we look at what we cant do, what we cannot afford and so on we’ll get hundreds of reasons and shortfalls to do absolutely nothing.

Have a willing heart.

Volunteering

Time: Some of us may not have money to give but may spare some time. Time to run a chore, talk/ listen to someone on the phone, time to write a letter or send a message. There are many ways we can give our time to help somebody.

Giving Positivity, hope, joy: 

Hope brings joy, positivity and hope to impossible situations.

We hope in God, our children. We put some hope in our businesses, the future, planet and so on.

• Try giving goodness instead of negativity.

Imagine when somebody has lost all hope and you give that person hope, encouraging life into what seem like a dead situation.

When some of us visit sick friends or relatives, its defeating to start saying  ‘I’ll be surprised if they last the night’, or ‘they ‘re caught between two worlds‘.

We visit sick people so we can encourage and comfort them not to make them feel worse.

When life is unbearable lets offer positivity and give hope. Encourage those in mourning with positive words.

• When there is nothing else remaining let there be hope.
• Hope gives joy to a future, something to look forward to.
• Show some love by putting your words into action

Give Money  to cover a need.

Offer skills.

God blesses people through people

People in general are changeable. One minute they tell you how awesome you are and the next thing they spit you out.

• We give and serve because it the right thing to do.
• We feel persuaded to make a positive change into someone’s life or help a cause.
• We all love a bit of praise, but don’t let it get into your head nor criticism into your heart just continue doing your bit.
• We don’t get our value from what people say about us on social media or elsewhere because when we get bad comments it will definitely affect us.

We do things and offer help because it is the human thing to do.

You can’t give away what you don’t have. You can’t give money when you don’t have money or status where you don’t have status. But you can give what you have.

God blesses people through people. Let’s give what we have.