Give More Than You Take

Have you ever been friends with someone who you now label as a “taker”?  Or maybe you were in a relationship with someone who was a “taker” and never a “giver”?  Most of us have been there.  Either we were in a romantic relationship with someone who “was all about them” and always took from the relationship instead of contributing to it.  Or we have had friends, or even worse, family members who just take and take and take.  I’ll bet some of you out there are nodding your head and saying “Huh-huh” as you read this.

All the takers in the world have one thing in common:  They are all unhappy.  I’ve been around my fair share of takers.  Probably more than most because of the line of work I’ve been in.  I’m not what you’d call an ‘authority’ on takers, but I’m pretty close.  LOL.

In all seriousness, takers are sad people.  They put on a good front around people, but when they go home at night, they are most probably alone or with other takers.  They can’t maintain true friendships and if their family isn’t like them, they are probably estranged from a core family.  They’re unhappy because they don’t give of themselves to others.  At all.  Nothing.  They just take.

Take care of someone else.  Be there for someone else.  Bless someone else.  A happy life is about giving more than you take. ~Mandy Hale

If takers could only understand that we are so very blessed if we give.  It’s just in me to give.  I grew up watching my mother and grandmother give and give and give.  And then I would watch them pray and ask that our family’s needs be met.  And they always were.  Every single time.  And we always received so much more than we needed.  And then we would give again.  It was a cycle that I grew up in and I am living proof that givers are happier.  And giving isn’t limited to food, finances, shelter, etc.  We are told to:

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ~Galatians 6:2

And we are also told:

Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. ~Proverbs 21:13

Extending compassion, sympathy, empathy and caring for others is the best kind of giving.  Giving of yourself to help someone through a rough time is a very valuable gift.  So always be there for someone else.  Show them that you care.  I promise you that your life will be much happier when you give more than you take.

Sending you blessings of love, laughter and gratitude from Sterrett, Alabama!

Charity