Give to those who cannot repay

My giving should not be a weight or a burden to the other person. The act of giving, itself, is its own reward, a source of true happiness.

With open hands

I open my hands, Lord, for the gift of Your Presence. You are the best gift, the only gift I need.
I know that there is still a lot to improve in me so as to become the person you've dreamed of me. Sometimes I don't know what to ask, when I am unaware of my shadows and limitations. Sometimes I don't want to ask what I know I need to ask, because I fear change.
God-within-me, help me to open my hands to give and to let go, to receive and to be grateful. Amen.

Giving all

To give to people we love is not difficult. It may ask us to exert effort or to divest ourselves of something, but this giving has its own reward. We give to someone we love and that love itself is the reward.

When does giving really hurt? It is when we are asked to totally divest ourselves of any sensible reward: a love that is not reciprocated, total uncertainty and insecurity. But such is love.

Love calls for total giving. The less sensible compensation there is, the more we journey and  enter into the realm of pure love.

Continuing the journey

There are certain experiences in life that leave a big mark. They make us lose our "innocence" and question the things we believe in. As I am writing this, I am reminding myself that when this happens I don't have a grasp of the whole picture. I am seeing things from my own perspective, using my own filters.
I don't want to judge people. I hope I am not judging people. I don't want this to be "us against them". I don't want this to be "my crusade" against a person or a group. Rather, I hope that God will transform me and grant me wisdom of heart so that I may see as God sees, and leave the judgment of people in God's hands. May I learn to judge a situation with the criteria of the Gospel, so that I may truly discern the right attitude and course of action. May God grant me unwavering hope.
May God help me to grow...
... in interior freedom so that I may be healed of my prejudices and my paralyses;
... in coherence of life between what is in my heart and what I say and do;
... in transparency because anything that is not done in truth is like a castle in the air that doesn't last;
... in going out of my comfort zones so that I may be able to give, especially to people who cannot or will not repay me, and to forgive again and again.

Rich

We are enriched not by what we keep but by what we give and what we receive as a gift.

Giving

Giving always enriches the giver.

For-giving

Forgiveness is a gift. 
It is not earned like a wage. 
It doesn't have to be deserved because it is not a prize. 
It doesn't wait for anything in return because it is not a barter.
That is why at the center of the word forgiveness is the word "give". It is something that is for-giving. 
In Italian the word is more beautiful and meaningful because forgiveness is PERDONO. "Per" means for; "Dono" means gift.
Indeed, the capacity to forgive shows the magnanimity of our heart, a heart capable of giving.

Giving out of love

When we give out of duty, we feed the belly;
when we give out of love, we feed the soul.

When we give out of duty, we are good and responsible citizens;
when we give out of love, we show that we are children of God.

When we give out of duty, there is always the right time and the right place;
when we give out of love, now is always the time, because giving is part of our identity.

When we give out of duty, there are limits and boundaries;
when we give out of love, we give all, and the miracle is, there is always still something more to give.