This evening I made and served dinner at a local church where there is a homeless program for people who find themselves without the means to put a roof over their head. As I served the dinner, I overheard a conversation with a man who had become homeless yesterday and who has battled with alcohol addiction. When I left my home for the evening to help out with this volunteer shift, all I could think about was wanting to receive an email from someone from my past to whom I had said things that made me feel quite vulnerable. After hearing this man's story, I realized how petty that all seemed in the whole scheme of things and suddenly getting a response did not seem all that important.
We are here to give and receive. Sometimes when we give, we don't receive something right away. Sometimes we receive things without having given anything. When I look deeper, I see I can give my mom the time and space she needs to vent without needing to receive anything in return. I can give of my time to volunteer more often. I can give a smile to a stranger and I have the choice to give love anytime. I can receive a compliment with graciousness. I can receive a pat on the back from my boss. I can receive friendship and kindness. I can receive and trust my inner wisdom in order to make to the best decision.
Giving and receving are like teaching and learning- they go hand in hand and one can not exist without the other. So let us learn to receive with grace and let us teach how to give whatever we can in the moment that may serve a higher purpose.
Namaste
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