When Giving Feels Like Losing: How To Find Joy in Small Acts of Generosity
Giving can be a struggle when we don't have much to spare. This post shares an inspiring story and faith-filled reflections on learning to give joyfully from the heart.
HEALING GRACES & REFLECTIONS
Sheri Anne Maximille Cabañes
8/1/20256 min read
Has someone asked you for help, but you don't have anything to give?
A beggar asking for alms.
A donation drive in the community.
A friend or family member needing help with medical expenses.
In this blog post, let's reflect on "joyful giving". Is it possible to give joyfully when you don't have anything to spare?
Inside This Reflection
My Struggles in Giving
Growing up in a family where money was always tight, I was normally the one needing financial help. I've relied on scholarships and student loans to fund my education. My clothes and shoes were mostly gifts or hand-me-downs. Our family can only eat outside the house when someone else pays or throws a party.
When I graduated and started working, I became the breadwinner of the family. I was earning enough money to sustain our needs, but still had to stick to a budget.
Giving felt like a luxury for me. I believed it was reserved for the rich who have so much to spare. When someone needed financial help or donations, I gave out of obligation.
I felt forced and resentful for having to give. To me, giving to others meant a loss for me and my family. I was never the type of person who gave joyfully.
A Lesson From A Little Girl
My perspective on giving changed during an encounter with a patient when I was working as a nurse at the hemodialysis unit.
One busy day, one of our regular pediatric patients handed me a bar of Snickers. Her name was Rose (not her real name). She came in 3 times a week for her dialysis sessions.
As she put the candy bar in my hands, I asked why she was giving it to me. She said she wanted to thank me for being nice to her. I appreciated her kind gesture, but thought of giving it back.
Rose's family didn't have much. They relied on social services and donations to fund her treatment. So, maybe the candy bar was given to her by someone else, or they spared some of the little money they had to buy it. Accepting it felt like taking something away from her.
But seeing how excited she was to give me that candy bar, I accepted and thanked her. It was, after all, my favorite. Her simple act of giving despite not having much touched me.
Rose passed away from complications of her kidney disease a few months after that encounter. Her life may have been short. But her kindness taught me a valuable lesson I still carry with me: giving joyfully despite not having much.
From Scarcity to Gratitude and Trust
When we've experienced having little, our mindset naturally tends to hold on tightly to what we have. We develop the "scarcity mindset", where we see more of what we lack instead of what we have.
My encounter with Rose and so many of my patients who gave despite financial hardships shifted my perspective on giving. They never thought they were losing something when they gave. They just gave freely and joyfully from their hearts.
The beautiful acts of generosity from my patients reminded me of something: Joyful giving is not reserved for the rich. We don't need to have the extra funds to give. It's not about having a lot, but having a heart that gives willingly and joyfully despite the lack.
For so many years, I was thinking and acting as if my paycheck came from my own abilities and not from God's grace and kindness. I realized that everything was a gift from Him - my knowledge and skills, the opportunity to work, and my life.
I started changing my mindset from scarcity to gratitude for God's generosity and trusting that His blessings are overflowing. As I learned to give joyfully, even if it's just a small amount, I felt lightness in my heart. I also noticed that the more I give, unexpected blessings come, like a neighbor sharing food, a freebie or a discount from a store, or a friend sending me money for my birthday.
I still have some moments when I feel like losing when giving. But I'm continuously learning and growing in faith that God always provides.
God Delights In Hearts That Give Joyfully
"He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” - Luke 21: 1-4
The story of the widow is a beautiful reminder that God does not look at the amount of what we give, but at what is in our hearts when we give. Others gave from the excess of what they had. But the widow gave everything she had, out of love and faith in God.
A person can give a huge amount but feel resentful, like how I used to. While others gave from what little they had out of pure kindness and love. God does not expect us to give a lot, but to give willingly and joyfully from the heart.
As stated in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
An Invitation To Do Small Acts of Joyful Giving
My journey in joyful giving was not easy. Even though I have become more willing to give and help in the smallest ways, I still have moments when I feel a sense of lack and loss when I give. When this happens, I try to look more into my blessings. I pray to God to open my heart and my hands to share the blessings He has given to me.
If you are like me, who struggles with giving, I encourage you to start small. You don't need to give a huge amount that affects your budget. Give what feels manageable, like spare coins or a piece of food. It may seem small, but it can be a big help to someone in need.
I started by giving some coins or a small pack of biscuits to the street children asking for alms. Now, every payday, I set aside a small amount for what I call my "generosity fund". This is where I get some money to share when someone asks for help. By having funds set aside for giving, I can give freely without worrying that giving could hurt my budget.
You don't have to give money when you don't have enough to spare. Instead of giving money, you can offer:
Prayers for someone in need.
A warm meal for the hungry.
Words of encouragement or advice for a friend facing problems.
Your time and presence.
Skills to serve others.
These are valuable gifts that you can share with others.
Joyful giving is not about the size of what we give. It’s about the size of our faith. It's trusting God as the ultimate provider of our needs. When we give joyfully, we become instruments of His unlimited generosity and unconditional love.
Always remember, true joy does not come from the abundance of money or material possessions, but from a heart filled with love. Ending this post with a bible verse to remind us that God wants us to give joyfully, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16)
What’s one small thing you can give today out of joy?
Let’s keep giving joyfully from the heart, just like how God blesses us every single day. 💕🙏🏻
