In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35
“What a wonderful mystery this is! Our greatest fulfillment lies in giving ourselves to others. Although it often seems that people only give to receive, I believe that beyond all our desires to be appreciated, rewarded, and acknowledged, there lies a simple and pure desire to give… Our humanity comes to its fullest bloom in giving. We become beautiful people when we give whatever we can give: a smile, a handshake, a kiss, an embrace, a word of love, a present, a part of our life…all of our life.”
Henri Nouwen in Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (New York: Crossroad, 1992) 85
Why is giving better than receiving? I think, with Nouwen, that it is what God made us to do. We become beautiful people when we give. We find fulfillment when we give. We accomplish our purpose on the planet when we give.
At this time in USA, flowers are blooming. But they only bloom for a season. Think about the connection. The purpose of a flower is to bloom for a short time. This is just like our lives. We are only here a short time.
Father in heaven, empower us by your Spirit to give smiles, handshakes, kisses, embraces, words of love, gifts, and parts of our lives, so that we bloom like beautiful flowers for you. Hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.