What Giving Blood Taught Me About Giving in General

 

1. I have more than enough.

The human body carries enough blood that I can give one pint every 56 days and not miss it. God designed us to have more blood than we need. I am sure that this is so that if the human body sustains an injury involving blood loss, the body can take advantage of its reserves to heal itself. What if the same is true of our time, gifts/talents, and finances? Do you operate daily on your bare minimum or do you have an excess if you allow yourself to see it? If so, who might need some of it?

2. Giving involves sacrifice.

Giving blood takes time out of my busy schedule. It also involves a bit of uncomfortable prodding with a needle. Even after giving blood for years, these aspects do not change. It is a sacrifice. Besides coffee and a few cookies, I get nothing back for my time and discomfort. Now look at giving in all of the areas of your life. How much can you give without any sacrifice? I’m guessing not too much. Somewhere the voice of entitlement, preservation, and comfort cry out: “Me, me, me!” How do you respond to that voice?

3. Giving has a rhythm.

A person can give blood approximately every two months. Every donation is valuable; however, imagine the impact and the lives affected positively if a person donated bi-monthly for years? Decades? It takes discipline. There is always a reason why it is inconvenient. Is the selfless drive it takes worth the magnitude of the impact? Now think about the causes and the organizations you believe in. Is there a rhythm that can be established in your giving? Can you up the tempo? Can you diversify? Is it possible you might be in a giving rut?

4. Giving is life giving.

Every pint of blood donated can help save a life. Rarely does a donor hear about what their pint of blood accomplishes. Year after year we have to trust that our blood is going to good use. Can I be satisfied with living in faith that people are helped through my anonymous gift? Can I rest content not knowing what happens to my pint of blood after I leave the building? Can I trust those responsible to see that my donation is honored? Now think about where you give in your life: family, work, volunteering, church, foundations, etc. Do you have a peace about your gift once it is given? Do you have a peace that the act of giving is enough? Can you trust that God will honour your sacrifice regardless of what happens to it?

I wanted to throw out some of these questions because we can often go through life without stopping to examine our generosity. It’s easy to either neglect the discipline of giving, or to fall into a giving rut that needs to be re-examined. As we approach Holy Week, we are reminded of how much Christ gave for us. It is from Christ’s sacrifice that we are so abundantly blessed… and in turn look to bless those around us.