Giving/Sacraficing

If you haven't read my post from a few days ago called "My road to Joy" yet, read it first...

I had a friend email me after my post on Joy...she said she felt bad for me because of the things I had to give and she wished she could give up more. My intent of talking about that was not for someone to feel bad or sad for me. My intent was to show that, money/contentment is not a problem for me and that I am accountable for giving up things...I guess listing things so that someone can't call me out on it. It made me remember other things I give up that don't bother me but do bother others (like she had said)...like I do my own pedicures, waxing, hair coloring...I still go to the same hair salon that I have gone to for like 15 years but I pushed back the dates I go (8 weeks instead of 6). It's not a big deal to me...it all comes down to what asked God has asked me to do, not what Brock has asked me to do.  If you think of it like that, it's alot easier to give things up and sacrafice.  I saw it asked this way "are you willing to suffer in order to bring about healing in the life of your husband?" and I ask this in everything I do now...I wouldn't call it suffering...it's not that deep, but you know what I mean.  I thought about this and wondered, is there anything that is a big deal to me? I read something recently that said truly giving is something that is hard to give...it's a sacrafice...it hurts to give. I wondered if there were things that would be hard to give. My husband faithfully gives me money from his commission a couple of times a year. I am told to use it for me and the children for things we need/want. I buy what we need and if there is anything left over, I spoil myself and get something fun. Things I have used the money for are coach purses, ugg boats, etc. Would those things be hard to give up? Yes...yes they would. But I thought what if instead I put that extra money away towards giving to the needy or an adoption fund? Yep, that would be totally worth it!

I read in Mark this morning all kinds of things about giving such as the widow who gave all she had.  It says in 12:43 "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is has given everything to the poor"...Everything...

This also Mark 10:25: "In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through an EYE OF A NEEDLE than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God"  Wow, that's tough...and it goes onto say in Mark 10:29-31
"I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property-along with persecution.  And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.  But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be greatest then"

And...Mark 10:21 "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, and follow me".

Even last night the story I read to Reece was called "Charity Helps those in Need".  It's a series of books about these character angels who help people on earth do what is right.  The story starts off with a girl walking in the winter cold with her favorite scarf, hat, and gloves.  The angel, Charity, tells her to give them to the poor girl waiting at the bus stop.  The girl says "but their my favorite" and Charity says "Yes, I know...but the best gifts come from the heart".  The little girl gives them to the poor girl at the bus stop and it deeply blesses her.  Charity says at the end "When you see someone in need, do what you can to help them and you will received JOY in return". 
Lots to think about...thinking about if I gave away some things that were my favorite...I would receive JOY in more ways than one...maybe not just as an emotion but in the form of a child :)