Are You Making Deposits?
Saturday, May 13, 2006
"Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty: only use not liberty for an occasion to the fiesh, but BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER."
My son posted something on his blog and we were discussing it. He said he was disappointed in people and how they will take and take, never thinking of giving in return. I guess he has some friends who always have these high expectations of him, but when he needs them, they are not there. He is a very loving and giving person, almost to a fault.
I have had some friends like that. For instance, if I were to borrow someone's car, I would automatically have it cleaned, washed, waxed and filled up with gas when I brought it back, but I have had people ask to use my vehicle and of course it was filled with gas and clean when they took it, then when they returned it, guess what? It was dirty and empty, one time a person's dog had vomited in my car and they covered it with the floor mat and left it.
I have learned to let anyone who borrows something of mine know that I expect them to bring it back in the same condition I loaned it to them. It seems it shouldn't be an issue you should have to discuss. I think it has to do with how we are raised and some of it is probably the environment, I am not sure. What do you think?
I also am aware that we should do without expecting in return. In ministry you can do nothing else for you are in situations which you have to be flexible and give until it hurts. I think the difference is when it is someone you know and love who takes advantage of you. So that might be the answer, sometimes we expect much from those we love and we don't show them gratitude in return. Such as with friends and family. Are we showing them we love and care about them.
The word says, "it's the little foxes that spoil the vine!" Song of Soloman 2;15. It's the little things that speak volumes to those we love. Do we take the time to clean up after ourselves? Do we stop and let them know we appreciate what they do? Do we speak to them in ways that honor them and show them how much we value them as a person? Do we go the extra mile in their behalf or do we do just enough to get by? Do we just take and never think about giving in return?
Love whether it involves friends or loved ones is like a checking account, if one person is always putting in and the other is always taking out, then a bankruptcy occurs in the relationship. But if both parties do everything they can to put in as much as they can, then the account is overflowing. We should always think more highly of others than we do ourselves. Phil 2:3,4 Romans 12:1-5.
When was the last time you stopped and put a deposit in that account instead of taking out a withdrawal? Love should motivate love. Imagine if we all put in, wouldn't it be a wonderful world. I am reminded of the movie "Pay it Forward." Let's all pay it forward, let's do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
Take care and hugs to you all!!
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 2:13 AM
7 Comments:
great post!
your son sounds like he has a tender heart, hope he can keep it as we get's older! :)
I saw that movie, it was good but sad!
thanks for stopping by my place
take care , happy mommy's day!
and God bless
Hi LLL
You are right...We are to give and not look for anything in return.. Thats hard! But thats what Jesus did and He ask for nothing but love. I not saying that I'm any better than your son is , I'm say that what we are to do. I be frank I don't understand why people don't like to give, I love that the better about life on this earth>
Thanks Sis
This post is one of the best I have ever read. So few words with such a powerful message. Those of us with the same vein of thought as you often feel bankrupt, we never have a deposit made into our account, yet we can never stop doing what is right and expected. It's all a matter of the heart, and I can see that you and your son have the right heart.
God Bless and Happy Mother's Day!
Boy, can I ever relate. I severed ties with several non-edifying friendships last year, and it was the best gift I ever gave myself.
Oh wow. Sounds like you have just taken a peek into my life. I just recently had a "friend" pretty much end our friendship b/c when I came to Florida for my baby shower, I did not meet her expectations. She told me I was selfish, but if she would have just stopped to think about how stressed and sad I was...I am sure I let a lot of people down by not spending time with them the way I planned. My real friends respected all I was dealing with, and never missed a beat. My hubby told me that God was just weeding that friendship out. I think he is right....
Excellent post, and very thought provoking.
Happy Mother's Day to you!
Once my husband let someone use our car, and brought it back about nine months later, looking YEARS older and had a broken window! We had to call charity to come take it away. The guy left a note of the dash something like, "Dude, this car just isn't working out." I was so furious! I thought to myself how mad my husband was going to be. Well, he wasn't mad at all. That was a lesson that God was working on to me! I think I remember that I didn't say anything (like get really P-O'd)about the situation and just kept quiet. It was a victory for me. I guess that is the Eternal Lesson. "Do not love this world or the things of this world, for the things of this world are temporary."
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