I had a bunch of deadlines that just had to be met, if I was going to stay on track and launch the Give Away A Dollar A Day website in time for the mid January release. So I had work to do, mostly graphical editing.
I was doing my work while I was at the theatre for my daughter in the Christmas Carol play. There was another father there, a good man. We had a friendship that was growing. Well, he made a spontaneous decision to get on the standby list to go watch the play, and he hit the jackpot!! He was able to get two good tickets, and came backstage to invite me to watch the show with him. At first, I thought it would be fun and a refreshing change of pace, but then I remembered all that work that I had to do. I thanked him, but said “no”.
Soon afterward though, I began to feel a little remorse in that decision. But it was too late, he had left, and the show had already started.
I learned two things from this experience… First, that I was probably being too rigid. Here was a friend reaching out his hand in offering, and I turned him down. I just had to get my work done, ya know.
But the other thing that I learned was about receiving. Earlier in the week, I had given him a copy of a song I had written, and my wife had given him some olive oil mixed with some peppers he had given us. So I think that he just genuinely wanted to give back.
Not long ago, I was completely consumed with getting. So much so that I didn’t give at all, but I also didn’t receive anything either. I was jammed up both ways.
But now that I have started giving every day, I want to be open to receive the love and the good that others have to give and want to give!
Many blessings to you and yours this Holiday Season!
Todd
PS – I thank my new friend for being a teacher. He showed up at the right time. This student (me) was ready.