Feb 08 2025 - It truly IS better to give. But can you graciously receive?

Growing up, I was taught that is more blessed to give than to receive. In 1980 something, I had moved away from my parent’s house and had rented a room in a home that I shared with an older gentleman.  One evening, a knock on the door revealed an officer who informed my landlord that his daughter’s house was on fire.  Sure enough, we looked up the road about a mile and saw her house fully engulfed.  I knew immediately that his daughter would need to move back and I was faced with returning to my parent’s. My best friend at the time invited me, in fact begged me, to move in with their family and, as I was taught, I declined several times so as not to inconvenience them.  He and the family kept offering and I kept thinking about it until a thought hit me. If I were to humble myself and accept the offer, that would give him and his family the blessing of giving. Sometimes, we need to be gracious receivers so that others can be gracious givers.