It is one of my pet peeves. It is such an ugly trait to have because the greedy person assumes that all they have is a direct result of the work of their own hands. So they try to hold onto it for dear life.I try my best not to be a greedy person. With what little I have, I will give to a person in need. Even if I don't know when I will be able to replace it, or buy more of something, I will let it go. Because it wasn't mine in the first place. And I have comfort knowing that God is the One who supplies all of our need, according to His riches and glory.
Growing up, I lived in a house that constantly had people over. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, grandparents. My mom always welcomed people in her home. I never saw her miserly or tight-fisted with what she had. She would bring out the best cuts of meat and cook meals for people. She would give clothes, furniture, little trinkets, blankets, etc. She never made people feel like they were imposing. She never required that people reciprocate, she just gave from her heart. And for that reason, her home always feels warm and welcoming.
When she was a young, single mother she had a friend who was always dropping by with her three kids right at dinner time. They would sit at the kitchen counter and hungrily watch my mom cook dinner. Of course, she always invited them to stay and eat. And they did. Often. And one of them was a ravenous teenage boy. Being as young as I was, I never thought of the impact of feeding four extra people on a single mother's budget. But she did it anyway.
And the interesting thing is, my mom never lacked anything. The more she gave, the more she received.
Sometime during the week, our pantry and the refrigerator would get filled up again, only to be poured out on more family, more friends, potlucks, etc. See, God was taking care of us. Maybe you see it as karma...my mom was putting it out there into the universe and it was sending good things back to her. Either way, I learned to never be tight-fisted. I learned to be gracious with what I had and to help those in need...and when I was in need, there were people around to help me. As a young girl, I saw this played out over and over again.
So it saddens me to see people who are greedy with what they have. I feel sorry for them actually...because they are foolishly believing what they have is truly theirs. We recently went to someone's house for a little birthday party. Well, for some birthday cake, actually. Let me just say that I realize it must be a burden to invite a family who has six kids over for anything. But by that same token, this family with six kids doesn't think twice about inviting more people to join us for anything. What a sad and lonely life that would be.
Anyhow, the chil'rens were being served big, thick slices of chocolate cake to fill their little bellies. Someone reached into the fridge to serve them all glasses of milk. And the hostess, the person who spends the money to fill up that fridge with more milk, she told the person who was serving, "No, give them all water." I heard her say it but I automatically assumed it was because she didn't have any milk. I know she is struggling. I realize that. So I didn't give it another thought. But then Sol came trailing in after everyone was finished and he was served a piece of cake. Then he went straight to the fridge and then proceeded to serve himself a big cup of milk. From a full gallon in the fridge.
And that kinda bugged me.
Because at that point, I figured the hostess decided she didn't want to waste her milk on her guests. She wanted to keep it for her kids for the rest of the week. Okay. But it's a $3.99 gallon of milk. And I just thought it was very sad considering that the hostess is always welcome in my home and feels comfortable enough to open up my fridge and pantry and help themselves to whatever they like. And they often stop by unannounced and then eat lunch and/or dinner with us. With her children, too. Yeh, they are little and may not eat alot but it's the principle we're talking about here. I never say there isn't enough. I never try to hoard or hide stuff. Even if I am down to my last whatever, I just keep moving forward having faith that my needs will be taken care of. I always offer what is good and whatever I will offer my own family, I will offer to her and her family.
So it was tough for me to swallow. Just considering all those things. And knowing that my kids would have liked to drink something other than water, just like her kids do when they are over at my house.
I've talked to Michael about this subject before and he says that people are just raised differently. And perhaps she doesn't realize she is doing anything wrong. And hopefully I am being a good example for her. Which is just what I expect him to say, dear man that he is.
I just want to say, girlfriend...you have only a little because you give a only a little. Don't be greedy. Don't hold onto what you have for dear life. Some would just turn it around and treat her the same way. That would be a natural response. But I would never be that way. It's wrong. And I can't say that I am 100% sure that she realizes what she is doing is...greedy. So I can't hold it against her.
And I have to follow my mama's example in this because it is true, it is good and it is right. I saw it laid out in front of me day after day. And I've seen the blessings that stem from it.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
