“Love Generously”

Generosity is a wonderful trait. Being generous…”giving more than is expected or needed… the warmhearted readiness to give more”. I love generous people; I want to be a generous person. 

St. Paul reminds us that “he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Cor. 9:6-7) Generosity is not just about money…it’s about giving…giving of what we are and what we have. It makes us cheerful.

God loves a “generous lover”. The great saints were generous lovers. They didn’t count the cost…they didn’t measure out their love using a scale. The saints were not perfect. We often know of their major flaws and even sin…. but they were generous in their love.

King David was a major league sinner…. yet, he loved generously…he exhibited generous courage and generous forgiveness and generous kindness. St. Peter was a major league sinner…he messed quite a few things up, but he was a generous lover…. he didn’t count the cost … spontaneously saying yes to serving the Lord, always looking to give all to the Lord, the first to tell the Lord of his love … even when he fell on his face soon after. Jesus loved Peter and made him the head of his church…. not because he was perfect and never sinned, but because he loved generously. 

I went to confession the other day. After examining my conscience I confessed my sins… it wasn’t my most dramatic confession…. “Hey, I didn’t murder anyone”. The priest said, “for your penance, I want you to go before the Blessed Sacrament and ask Jesus what HE wants you to work on, not what you want to work on… not the things you just listed, but what HE wants you to work on.” Hmmmmmm. Well, I did that and I felt the Lord say to work on “friendship”…on being a friend to others and receiving their friendship in return. It resonated with my spirit.

Translating the above, I believe the Lord wants me to “love generously”. Love your friends generously… love them when you’re tired…love them when they are not at their best…. love them when you are not at your best. I’ve been trying to do that, mainly in small ways, and I have to say I’m more at peace. It takes my focus off myself…”THE BIG ME”. And my hope is that as I love more generously and be a better friend, that the “laundry list” I bring to confession will be taken care of also. 

So, let’s love the Lord and our neighbors generously. I believe this will bring a smile to God’s face. And there’s nothing better than bringing a smile to God’s face. I love to see that face…. God’s face with a smile, a look of delight, the gaze of love. And “all will be well with our soul”.