Generosity is not something we think about hour by hour, even day to day. I have personally witnessed or have experienced much about generosity over the past few days. Let me start by saying despite my best efforts, and fully aware of God's will, I am not always generous. I could do better. Generosity is not just about throwing money around, in fact, I view the most generous thing one can do for another is be generous with one's presence and time. I used to watch the TV show known simply as ER, it was a big hit many years ago. In one season, near the end of their long run, the character of Dr. Mark Greene, played expertly by the talented Anthony Edwards was to be "killed" off. The method was a long debilitating disease and as the end drew near, he had this sweet yet powerful scene with his TV character daughter. There was great healing and compassion as Dr. Greene, deplete of any energy, shared all his kindness, love and wisdom with his young daughter. Among his last words to her was simply this: "be generous". That one line, uttered many years ago, has always stayed with me: be generous!
My wife Wendy is incredibly generous especially with her time, even to her own physical detriment. Not in great health, she has sacrificed much to make sure her mom is properly attended to and cared for especially during this now 9 day hospitalization. Wendy has struggled some this time, especially with her pain management, but that does not stop her. Having reached out to one relative who demonstrated for all of us an ongoing lack of generosity, Wendy was gifted with incredible generosity by having others step forward to assist her personally and help care for her mom. An aunt, 3 first cousins and a second cousin got together and shared a time schedule that allowed Wendy to be at home Saturday and Sunday so she could attend to her own health and complete some of her important responsibilities. Wendy is a seamstress and she had some "jobs" that needed to be finished this weekend and she needed rest. She also wanted to fit in a visit with our granddaughter Brennan.
Another opportunity this generous gift of self afforded us was to finally enjoy our 41st anniversary dinner, abruptly cancelled last week as her mom was being transported to the hospital. Wendy and I had long desired to check out this great restaurant near Madisonville and this was the right opportunity. Needless to say we were not disappointed. It was great. Now yes, I am a Facebook geek too so as soon as we arrived I did that check in thing. Little did I know that more generosity would befall us. At the end of our delicious dinner I felt like the staff was dilly-dallying as far as bringing me the bill. Then, a very nice lady with the restaurant, who had stopped at our table earlier inquiring of our last name, sat down and excitedly told us that a generous person had called the restaurant( I assume having seen my check in) and had gifted us our incredible anniversary meal. Yes, I am a wimp, I literally had to hide a few tears. How incredibly generous! And what timing; this has been a very difficult week for both Wendy and me; more so Wendy. This great act of generosity, coupled with the generosity of Wendy's family members certainly put a smile on her face and restored some hope in her being!
For me, I was given a great gift by these examples of generosity because I want to be generous as a husband, father, grandfather, a deacon in His Holy Church, a person, a child of God. I may not be monetarily gifted, but my presence, my self, and my time should be generously shared with both those I love, and those I know and those I don't know; those whose paths may cross.
No one is/was/always will be more generous than Jesus, our Lord & Savior and great example of generosity. I serve Him and His Holy Church and among that which I am called to be and do, is generous. I thank God for these incredible reminders gifted to us. I thank Wendy's cousins Trudy, Susan and Nancy, her aunt Nan and our 2nd cousin Shirley. And I thank that generous soul who brightened our night and gave us a gift that will be long remembered. And I thank Wendy for the incredible gift of generosity she pours out to me all these many blessed years. I wish I was half as generous as you.
In the end, like Dr. Mark Greene, I hope I remember to share with others that God-sent and beautiful advice: be generous!
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