Thank you.
Really, thank you so very much.
Your generosity is making a difference.
If you are reading this blog, there is a high likelihood that you have given a gift to Hungry For Life! Perhaps it was a monetary donation or staff support. Perhaps it was your time – fundraising for a global project or travelling overseas to serve with your gifts. Perhaps it was prayer for one of our staff, for one of our partners, or for one of the countries in which we work.
Also, if you are giving to us at HFL, we make the following assumption: you are likely giving to others as well. If others haven’t thanked you lately, we see you. Thank you.
More importantly, God is cheering on your generosity.
God sees, knows, and promises to reward you for your giving, even when you are not known for the gift or the gift you give goes unseen by others.
A few months ago, after deciding to come on staff with HFL, I was talking with a South African friend about our organization. He and wife were surprised when they first moved to Canada about the plethora of requests they received to give money to local and global non-profits and to volunteer for different events ‘doing good’ at schools or in the community. A lot of people are making a lot of asks!
In South Africa, struggling with more significant poverty and unemployment than Canada, they understood generosity as their own social responsibility. My friends dedicated a portion of their own earnings to ‘pay it forward’ as different kinds of employment. They expected to regularly tip ‘unofficial’ parking attendants or car guards hustling for an income. They created a number of paying, low barrier jobs at their workplaces – jobs someone on staff could easily complete. And they budgeted to employ house and garden help. I was humbled by the way they practiced direct generosity to their neighbours in need.
Whatever your understanding is on how to be generous, generosity makes a difference.
But have you noticed the difference generosity is making for you?
Often we think of giving our resources (time, talent, and money) TO someone else or some cause. Think of the most recent birthday gift you gave. Who was it to? Likely someone you loved (or at least knew). When you were buying the gift, I imagine you were having some of the following thoughts: what do they want, will they like this gift, do they need this gift? When you give to a non-profit, you might be thinking a little differently: who really needs this help, am I passionate about this cause, will this make a difference?
Did you think, “Wow, giving this gift is going to be so amazing for ME!” Likely not.
Of course we can be generous with self-centered intention or with hopes for our own benefits. My husband would certainly agree based on how many ‘great’ books I gifted to him after reading them. (Note to reader: I have stopped doing that.) I’ve also let him know that buying my favorite kettle baked salt & vinegar chips might not be deemed an act of generosity.
Nonetheless, the research is in. Living a life of habitual generosity has benefits. The practice of giving is good for humans!
- Generosity is good for our physical health.
Shocker (or not), it’s backed by research! Medical studies show that generous people can experience health benefits. Documented benefits for generous people can include the following: lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety and depression, improvements in chronic pain, better sleep, and less risk of dementia.
Generosity has also been shown to reduce stress, and we’re continuing to learn the spillover effects of chronic stress on many health issues.
There are even studies that show generosity can increase our life expectancy.
2. Generosity is good for our emotional health and well-being.
Giving makes us happy.
Feeling good has become a global obsession, and documenting those things that make us feel good is a close runner up. Yet, how often do we experience the people around us as truly happy?
Even in moments where I might be complaining, if I have an opportunity to be generous, in my thoughts, words, or actions, generosity changes my mood. Almost all the time, and usually for more than a moment. We are finding out that humans are wired with feel good chemicals - endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin. Generous acts release these chemicals. Not only that, but generous thinking – thinking well of others and extending grace – can release the same chemical reaction. Feeling good is indeed a product of ‘doing good’ for others and ‘doing right’ by others.
Lowering stress also has spillover effects on our mood and on our ability to experience and process the gamut of emotions – including anger and grief. Emotional health is a happier way to live life.
3. Generosity results in our being blessed.
In the Scriptures, Paul attributes a quote to Jesus which is now part of our common lexicon around generosity: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35 NIV).
As the Director of Development and fundraising at HFL, I’m hoping our supporters know this to be true! Giving blesses the giver. Happiness and a sense of God’s favour goes to the giver.
And yet, Paul relayed this to his friends in Ephesus not because he needed funds or gifts from them. He lived simply, worked hard, and supported his team so that he could share his time, his knowledge, and his monetary resources with those who had need. He chose a way of life that allowed him to be generous, a way of life that remembered these words of Jesus.
If you Google “Reasons to be generous” you might, or might not, find “Jesus told me it’s the better way” among the listed reasons. But, if truth is rooted in the words of Jesus, then blessing will come as we give.
Richer relationships, transformative forgiveness, increased sense of purpose and meaning in life, social connectedness, the eradication of poverty and hunger, societal lift and development, and educational and work opportunities are just a few of the “blessings” that come to others from a life lived generously. Oh, and being physically and emotionally healthier.
That sounds like a rich life to me. This sounds like spiritual vibrancy and human flourishing.
So, keep up the generosity. It’s good for you.
And please know that giving also blesses us who receive, which is why we say thank you so much for your generosity to our projects, partners and staff at HFL.
Your generosity is making a difference. In us and in you.
