Sometimes we miss chances to be generous because we are afraid to move quickly. I told a story earlier this week about a friend who gave the leftovers she had in her car to a homeless man she saw while waiting at a stop light. She had a choice in that moment, to move quickly or not at all.
There is nothing wrong with being measured in our actions and diligent in our research. But if we aren’t careful that can become a barrier to generosity in our lives. Click To Tweet
Many times I have planned to volunteer my time but I never got around to emailing the coordinator, or I mean to give to a good cause but I want to research the charity first and I never remember to do it later. Sometimes it’s Ok to just do it on the spot. To give to the stranger on the street, to ask questions of the non-profit representative you might meet at a community event. To fill out the giving card you get in the mail and drop it in the post box. We don’t have to always make it complicated.
Simplicity feeds spontaneity,especially when it comes to generosity. Click To TweetWhen you see a need you can meet, just do it. When a friend found out I was debating not attending our MOPS group anymore because I didn’t feel like I could justify the registration fees when my husband doesn’t have a job, she offered to pay them for me on the spot. I heard another friend was looking for a sitter to watch her kids while she went to therapy. I told her to forget paying for childcare, she could just drop the kids at my house.
I’m not saying that you have to volunteer to do anything that needs to be done without consulting your spouse or your calendar. But I am saying don’t overthink it.
Sometimes procrastination disguises itself as diligent research. We say we’re going to think about it, but we’re just as likely to forget it altogether.
Spontaneous generosity helps prevent this phenomenon. Many of us really want to find ways to love and serve those around us, we just can’t seem to get around to it.
Don’t wait. Be spontaneous and even instantaneous with your generosity.
Next – When Love Is a Choice: How Generosity Can Grow My Marriage
Spontaneity can be so good! Especially when trying to be generous.
I almost never regret spontaneous generosity. But I often regret not being generous when I have the chance. (So glad you are following and enjoying the series!)