$1,000

When I was about 10 or 11 I caught my grandpa giving a fairly decent amount of money to a pretty young family that we hardly knew. I was pretty sure he was suffering from some for of old person mental disorder and asked him about it. He explained the situation..The guy had worked for him and was a hard worker but they'd had several things come up and just couldn't seem to catch a break. I still thought he was crazy because to me it was an unreal amount of money lol. But he said something that stuck with me. He said that sometimes people pray for a miracle when all they really need is a friend. And in a good deed rather its cash or taking the time to just be a friend....they see hope. Someone cares. Someone noticed. Then he went on to say it'd likely mean more if he didn't act like an old pain in the....neck lol

Its funny because really handing out cash and walking off is the easiest...but if you can manage to actually be an empathetic person it means more in the long run. Money is great but its fairly short term while actually disciplining yourself to be a good person and reflect the character of Christ takes real work. In the end it really is a self denial for the benefit of others kind of thing.

I think you "get it" more than many of us. I have a helluva time truly being empathetic. I like animals more than I do, people.

If God asked most of us to give away a $1,000 gift to someone who really needed it, and we could well afford to do so..... Wouldn't most of us do it?

Then why is it that we often neglect to give simply 25 cents (metaphorically speaking, of course) to people we meet every day, perhaps five or six times a day? That would be just a smile, or a small helping hand, or some other minor courtesy as we pass them in the course of our daily lives.

Back to the money side, I won't go into specifics but I've given a lot. Lol

On the other hand if someone came up to me and asked for spare change, unless
I could see it was a genuine immediate need. I.e. Lost bus fare, someone needed
the toilet (we have some public toilets where you pay to spend a penny lol),
that kind of thing, then I would refuse.

Why, well because I've seen people try that on a lot, they get lots of spare change then
go drink it all.

On the other hand what Willie is referring to. Time, politeness, patience, smile etc.
we all do that I would think. Ive done that and more, I do it daily with my aunt.
Ive do it for friends and family without them even realising it. I do it for strangers.

Ive done it when it's been most inconvenient for me but the other person hasn't
known that.

Ive taken strangers to places when they asked for directions rather than just telling
them (assuming it's safe and in a public busy place).

Ive asked depressed friends if they want to pop into town with me for a bite to eat
after church. Even though I wasn't planning on going before hand and have had
other things I wanted to do.

Ive gone to visit people in hospital even though I'm stressed to the eyeballs and have
a hundred other things to do.

I say thank you to bus drivers when I get off, I open doors for people (old school as
many don't bother now).

I lent my £2,300 soprano saxophone barely out of its brand new box (well case) to
an enthuastic 16 year old who really really wanted to try it out (he already had a
alto and was thinking of asking mum and dad for a soprano). That really hurt a lot
that was more painful than giving him a million pounds! Lol

and much much more

But to be honest I see other Christians do the same so I just assume it's
common and nothing particularly to shout about. It's called kindness,
even non Christians can do kindness.

Now the money thingy, that's different that takes a real giver, especially in hard times.
So the money thing is probably the real test.