What if?

Over the past few weeks, I've had all these recurring thoughts swirling in my head. Hopefully, I can somewhat navigate through them and make them somewhat cohesive. 

The other day, I was speaking with someone and she said to me, "I don't care.  It is not my problem."  Normally, she is such a giving, compassionate person.  It caught me off guard to hear her say something so uncaring.  Which led me to start thinking about my life.  While I would love to say that I'm a "giver" more than a "taker"  I really had to stop and evaluate myself.  I love the thought of being a "giver", but when it comes right down to it, do I act on those thoughts?  Am I being a good example for my children?  Do I really give of myself freely?  Oh, I have good intentions all the time, but too often the "it is not my problem" or "I'm too busy between work, kids, house, school" thoughts intercede.  Why is it so easy for us to make excuses for ourselves?  Then I had a thought.  What if God had said, "Well, they are the ones that sinned, so it isn't my problem."  Or even Jesus.  He was the ultimate "giver".  What would have happened if he told God, "I'm sorry.  This isn't my burden to bear.  It isn't my problem."  What a terrifying thought. 

Shortly after the above converstation, I ran across this scripture.

Proverbs 3:28
Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"--when you now have it with you.

Not only did I find this scripture once, but three different times it has come up in the last few weeks.  I think someone is trying to send me a message.  How many times have I put things or people off?  If I want to think of myself as a "giver" I need to follow through with my actions, and do it deliberately. 

As I mulled over this thought of being more of a "giver", I began to wonder what it would it be like if everyone was a "giver"?  Now, I am not one to go on political rants, and I'm not going to use my blog to debate left versus right, but I think the government would have a much easier time if there weren't any "takers" in the world.  Imagine if no one sat around wanting to abuse the system.  If people weren't so consumed with "me"  and looked at the bigger picture.  Everyone gave 110% in all aspects of their lives.  What if everyone wanted to work hard to better themselves along with society as a whole.  People wouldn't have the thought that they were owed anything.  Instead, they worked hard and felt compelled to give back.  What if?!?

There is always the flip side.  Well, if everyone is a "giver", then who are the "takers"?  I fully understand that circumstances happen that are beyond our control.  Sometimes unavoidable things happen, that may turn a "giver" into a "receiver", but only temporarily.  Notice I say "receiver", NOT "taker".  A "giver" becomes a "receiver" in certain instances by circumstance, but you can only be a "receiver" if your arms are already outstretched and open from being a "giver".  Once the circumstance resolves, the gracious "receiver" then goes back to being a "giver".  Only now, the once "receiver" has a much larger appreciation for giving. 

In the past few weeks, I have also heard the same song repeatedly, with one line that seems to be speaking to me.  It is a Casting Crowns song and it says, "break our hearts for what breaks yours".  I just keep coming back to that line.  I need to have more empathy and give of myself more.   I know that my little utopia that I have illustrated will never exist.  But what if I try to be more giving, more Christ like?  What if I set a better example for my children?  What if?