Able to Receive

My mom and dad the other day went to a local restaurant and upon arriving noticed a couple men holding the door letting them in first.  The men ordered their food, then mom and dad ordered theirs.  They noticed the men still standing there and when it came time to pay, the one gentleman handed a twenty to the cashier and paid for mom and dad's too.  They graciously accepted and thanked them.  Mom said to the gentleman... "Thank you and God Bless you!  There's still good people in the world."  He nodded.  She asked if  he'd like a hug, and he said he did.

What a sweet exchange.  They graciously accepted, but mom noticed how the one young man had really bad, rotting teeth and unkempt clothing and thought he really could use the money himself.  My mom and dad are not lacking for anything and if we don't lack sometimes it's harder to receive from someone we feel is more in need.  However, I think God looks at this in a different way.

Later that day mom and I had a conversation about this random act of kindness.  We related a couple times from our past whereby we did not let someone give to us.  We have learned that was the wrong thing to do.  They tried to give, but we paid them back, thence taking away that opportunity for them.  In this recent situation, mom and dad were able to receive as grateful receivers.  A blessing beyond our understanding.

Interestingly enough, the next day I randomly opened one of my devotionals to just this same topic.  Obviously, God wanted us to look into this a little further.  The excerpt read as follows...

"He that is able to receive... let him receive." (Matt. 19:12)

It is not so hard to receive as it is to have to receive.  To be obliged to take a gift makes us agree swiftly with the words of the Lord Jesus when He said, "It is more blessed to give than receive."  Then we see it is harder to take gracefully the kindness of our friends, than even their buffetings for our faults.  But when we must receive, then that is the will of God for us, and just then more beneficial to us than giving.  We must be willing, not only to serve, but to be served; not only to bear others' burdens, but to let others bear ours; not only to minister to the sick, but to be simply and thankfully ministered unto; not only give, but to receive.  It is sometimes the will of God that we should let others do the will of God, and ourselves be the occasions instead of the authors of kindness." - Maltbie Davenport Babcock (from Thoughts for Everyday Living, 1904).

How can there be any giving, any serving, if there be no receiving?  Someone must receive if another is to give.  We give joy to the giver when we become the grateful receiver.  Thus, as paradoxical as it may seem, in receiving there is giving.  The noble receiver is the noble giver. - M. Taylor.

It definately gives the whole "more blessed to give than receive" a twist.  I've never really thought this through quite this thoroughly.  That in receiving, we are giving.  Wow, point taken.

Even though mom and I had learned our lesson on graciously receiving prior to this more recent event, it has all the more brought more clearly the blessings that flow from being a gracious and grateful receiver.

Okay Lord, I get it.  Now... anyone who wants to give to me, I will certainly, most graciously receive.

*As an aside, immediately after I finished typing this... my phone rang.  It was my dad.  He was on his way home from the laundry mat and asked if He could pick up and pay for our lunch.

Wow Lord, you work fast.  I most certainly, graciously, gratefully and happily received!

Oh Lord, You have quite the sense of humor!