Who gets the Bill? 💵
We’ve all been there—dinner with friends or family, and then the moment of truth:
Who’s picking up the check? 💸
I remember taking my parents, my future wife, and her parents out to dinner over 40 years ago to ask for their blessing to marry Deborah.
When the bill came, it was an honor to pay it—though my credit card was declined!
More recently we had some dear friends join us for a week in Northern California. We spent time on the beach, in the redwoods and sailing on the bay. As hosts it was our honor and insistence to pay for much of this.
After our guests left we discovered they had left checks written to PurposeBOX as a generous thank you!
What a surprise blessing that we can use to bless others.
Generosity is unique in 3 ways 🌱
Here is how I see it…
👉 It is simply more blessed to give than receive.
I’ve written about this before, but I can’t overstate it: generosity impacts our physical and mental health, our happiness, our freedom, our outlook—everything.
It shifts us from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance. And when that shift happens, many of life’s challenges lose their grip.
👉 The impact of giving can’t be overstated.
If someone living on thousands of dollars a month gives even a small amount to someone surviving on $45/month, the difference is staggering. You don’t need to be an economist to do that math. The scale of need is massive—but so is the potential for good.
👉 Generosity builds legacy.
Each of us leaves a mark on the world.
Done well, that mark becomes a legacy—one that reflects what our life was truly about.
A while back, we helped fund the construction of a school building for Pioneer School in Rwanda. To our surprise, the school named their new dining and meeting hall after us. We never ask for recognition, but their gesture was deeply kind.
Back to our friends and their gift.
Deborah and I agreed to join up with them and see where are pooled money can best be used.
Let’s see what happens… Of course before I could hit the send button on this entry, the perfect need popped up!
The Bucket Ministry is setting up a remote station in East Africa, built with shipping containers.
And wouldn’t you know it? Everyone in our little “giving club” works in the container business.
Need met. Purpose aligned. Design support offered.
✨ Final Thought
Giving is a joy. A privilege. An act that blesses everyone it touches.
Just like that dinner 42 years ago—it’s always an honor to pay the bill.
My prayer is that you enjoyed this and are challenged to be more generous.
And I would appreciate it if you would share this post with friends.
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