"Monday 5 Things" with D. Paul Graham
Of Giving…..
On this Christmas morn, as many are sipping the first cup of the day’s coffee, smelling the turkey being cooked, and opening gifts, today’s M5T looks at lessons learned from giving.
1. Of Your Time
We all have 1,440 minutes in a day. How precious is the gift of time invested in someone or a cause that you care about? Those are portions of time that you will never get back, so choose wisely. “The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
2. Of Your Talent
Using your gifts and talents to serve others provides purpose, inspiration, and encouragement. “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Pablo Picasso.
3. Of Your Money
A touchy subject for many. The parables of talents in Matthew 25 and the widow’s offering in Mark 12 offer some reflective insight into what it means to invest and to give. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” Anne Frank.
4. Of Your Heart
Gifts of empathy, forgiveness, tears, hugs, mercy, or the grace of a listening ear. In a word, love. In an age of immediacy, gift cards, and thoughtless giving, the mutual joy in finding a gift that means something truly special to someone you care about cannot be replaced. “It is the heart that does the giving; the fingers only let it go.” Nigerian Proverb.
5. At A Cost
There are times when giving can have a profound cost. It is the gift of putting someone else’s needs before yours, speaking truth, love, and understanding, even when it hurts, that can change the course of a life. “The gift of sight to see beyond the darker clouds of now.” John McLeod.
Here’s to finishing this year, looking forward to the coming year, and recognizing that everyone has something to give that can transformation a difficulty, change a perspective, fill a need, heal a wound, or simply bring unexpected joy to someone. Wishing you all a blessed Christmas celebration with your family and friends.
© 2017 D. Paul Graham, all rights reserved.
D. Paul Graham is passionate about people, culture, photography and business. He has embraced his wanderlust with his travels around the globe, and is at peace with his need for spirited drives in all things automotive.
