It Is In Giving, That We Receive

Another great line in the prayer of St Francis of Assisi is “It is in Giving, That We Receive”.  Wellbeing research often reflects on the importance of living for a purpose beyond ourselves.  The importance of giving is part of the age-old wisdom of the Bible where in Proverbs we find a number of references to giving, including the encouragement to live generously.  Each of us is aware of the feelings of joy or satisfaction that come from having given to someone else. Research has shown that our brains activate reward systems when we are involved in giving. We are wired for generosity. Letting go of oneself and focusing on the needs of others, provides tremendous freedom and space to act.  Even thinking about doing something kind for others gets our minds into a different space.  Our bodies relax and a smile can even sneak onto our faces.

God encourages us to give freely without the need for recognition or reward, to give out of love for people and all of His creation.  In doing this, we recognise that all we have comes from a gracious God who has given generously to us. As we give, we are part of the flow of God’s blessing into the world. As we respond with generosity, lives change and there is a flow of joy, possibility and hope.