Living With Open Hands
My father sat all his kids down before Christmas presents a few weeks ago, and handed us a piece of paper. The paper displayed a few years, starting when I was born in 1987, till the last Sipe child was born in 2002. Beside each one of those years was the family’s gross income for the year.
As we all took our time and processed the numbers before us, a sense of awe and peace fell over the room.
Obviously, we were all alive to experience the lean years of raising 6 kids while business was bad - it is another thing to look back and wonder how we came through it all.
I can tell you that none of those numbers were above $37,000.
When we all acknowledged that we had read the paper, my dad looked at us with peace in his eyes.
It was a sweet moment, and a reminder how faithful our Father in heaven is.
None of us ever wanted for anything, and as I traveled outside of the country and saw third world countries, I realized how blessed we truly were.
We made a point to keep the important things, the important things. Despite opposition from people - some within our own family - we kept to the mantra of faith, family, and freedom.
The more I work to build my own house, and seek wise counsel in my work, I realize how simple and true those 3 words are.
We may desire great things as we seek to keep up with Jones’s. We may look at our portfolios and agree with Mr Rockefeller that just one more will be enough.
I am here to tell you that it never is enough, until you stop closing your hands, and leave them open for the blessings to flow.
The secret of living, is giving. Hoarding never kept anyone happy. When things collect, they grow stale and lose the luster for which they were made. That is no way to enjoy life.
Such a beautiful reminder. I grew up in similar circumstances. We had 5 children and always had just enough. It's hard to teach thankfulness in a better way than through circumstances like that. It's hard to understand when you have the ability to get the things you want. Yet in all circumstances, in the meager times and those overflowing with more than we can believe, we are called to be thankful.
What a beautiful point. We never know how thankful we can be, until we have the opportunity and the necessity to do so.
This is an awesome story!! It seems like you all have come a long way! Sticking together as a family through the thick and the thin is so important!
It surely is! We have come a long way and don’t miss a material thing - we do miss each other.
Open hands can't hold on to anything. I like that. Give me the simple life any time.
I find that when we have "stored" stuff in our basement, I feel heavy and bothered. Once the clean up and purge has happened I feel lighter and freer.
All this stuff needs to be watched over for moths and other insects, rotting or worrying about a break in.
Open hands don't worry about such things - they are for letting go and receiving what counts.
Oh so true. Store up treasures in heaven our good book says. That truth becomes clearer by the day.
a very encouraging post, lydon. We were once in a church where there were a few unemployed people that Deb and I wanted to help - The pastor tried to dissuade us quoting 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - if you don't work, you don't eat. Needless to say, we left that church
Wow, I can see why you left. It always amazes how we can stand on a particular Scripture to support our message.
@lydon.sipe
thanks for sharing this great post, there is nothing like giving, it is through giving with simplicity and cheerfulness that we honor our creator and the greatest investment in this life is help through giving.
-No one has ever become poor by giving- you nailed it here. this remind me of a saying that, when you are building others up, is when you are building yourself up too.
My Pastor has a saying he likes to use called, “biblical math.” Your words here are a perfect example of that.
This is an amazing post! I am a college student right now, majoring in Economics. Since my first year, I decided that I would not chase money, because like you said, it is never enough. It can easily become an idol. However, living in a capitalist society plus all of the cryptocurrency mania going on now, it is easier said than done! I pray that I will keep this in mind, God truly is enough.
I agree with you, and pray you shall be faithful.
Like old Buffett says, all of us born in America have won the ovarian lottery. Its easy to such for granted.
Haha, I forgot about that quote. It is easy to take things for granted.
and even scientifically if you give and help others basically it makes you feel good and increases your well being
That is quite true.
you just said the truth no one can deny that very nice post to read today
Thank you for reading.
Truly, in giving, we receive. Thank you for this amazing reminder lydon
You are most welcome @adawrytes.