Staying Alert And Aware Of The Cycle Of Giving And Receiving

It goes both ways

Recently I lost contact with some of my Facebook friends after a disastrous hack that caused the deactivation of my account. It has taken some time to get my friends back, so I’ve lost contact with many people.

Imagine my shock to learn as friends re-accept my new account the news that a young woman who worked with me at my last job had lost her house in a fire. She and her husband are the parents of three beautiful children. I cannot imagine the devastation that she feels. They have lost everything, but she tells me that they are all safe. That is a blessing.

She shares on Facebook how her many friends have reached out to help, and she is grateful. In no way was she asking for money, but I, of course, dusted off my checkbook and sent her a check. It is the least that I could do.

I don’t know why such terrible things happened to wonderful people, but I feel that it is our job to reach out and connect when things like this happen.

Using that same line of thinking, imagine my frustration with a relative living alone existing only on Social Security. It is frustrating because while she loves to help others, she does not want to receive help in return. I do her taxes every year, and she insists on trying to pay me. I can understand wanting to be independent and self-sufficient, but I cannot charge someone I love for fifteen minutes of my time.

If I called her today, she would jump in her car and come to help me with whatever I need her to help me with. Yet, she doesn’t want to accept any help from me or anyone else. It hurts my feelings for sure.

We have to learn to both give and to receive. We all have those relatives or friends that are constantly reaching out but never giving. Then we have those who give but don’t want to receive. Somewhere there needs to be a balance.

No one wants to be beholden, but when someone gives, accept it with a smile. It is their gift to you.