Saints John & Elizabeth Church - Grayson at 799 State Highway 1947, Grayson, KY 41143-9334 US - November Focus:  Generosity

The Webster Dictionary defines “generous” as: “characterized by a noble or forbearing spirit; magnanimous, kindly; liberal giving; openhanded; marked by abundance or ample proportions.”
We often think of generosity in terms of money and stop there. It is interesting that the dictionary begins the definition by referring to spirit – an interior quality or intention. No where does it refer to money. How we share our time, talents and resources is the measure of our generosity. It is not a virtue for just the wealthy or those with extraordinary talents. It is a virtue we all have and are capable of developing. It does not require us to do great things that would be lauded in a newspaper – in fact, real generosity does not invite a reward of any kind. That extra five minutes you spent chatting with the janitor may not seem like a big deal; but it is a generous act. You gave your time and attention to someone else not because they could do something for you in return but because it simply seemed to be the right thing to do at that moment. Think about some of the people who you see as generous. How is their generosity expressed? True generosity is developed through doing little things. Taking a little time from your busy day to talk to someone you don’t have to or praising someone’s efforts, sharing the credit for a success and noticing opportunities to lend a helping hand where it is needed are little acts of generosity. You may not have a lot of money, time or special skills to offer but that does not mean you cannot be generous with what you do have. When we give what we have left over or extra, we are not really being generous. There is no giving of ourselves which is essential. Generosity does not look for excuses not to do something; but instead is always asking what can be done no matter how small it may seem. How generous are you? Ask for the grace to see ways you can become more generous.

(Parish Secretary, Volume 13, Issue 1)

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