Daily Question, April 16 How have I been enriched by giving? 48 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. DeVonna1 year agoDeVonnaI reluctantly met my mother when I was 25. Her addiction and mental health issues landed me in foster care when I was about three months old (no one remembers exactly). My growing up years were a hell on earth that I barely survived. By the time she "found" me I was a grown woman with two toddlers of my own and I had little interest in further burdening myself with yet another complicated relationship. I tried for 2 yrs to carve out a place in my life for Mother. Years of drug use and extreme ps...I reluctantly met my mother when I was 25. Her addiction and mental health issues landed me in foster care when I was about three months old (no one remembers exactly). My growing up years were a hell on earth that I barely survived. By the time she “found” me I was a grown woman with two toddlers of my own and I had little interest in further burdening myself with yet another complicated relationship. I tried for 2 yrs to carve out a place in my life for Mother. Years of drug use and extreme psychiatric treatments had left her paranoid, demanding and out of touch with reality. I finally cut off all contact with her, out of concern for my own mental well-being. When I learned years later that she had passed, I grieved. I grieved for the relationship that we never had and for the loss of her presence in the world. I wanted to somehow commemorate her life. I pondered and prayed and came up with an idea. I would donate to a micro-loan organization in her memory and gift another struggling mother in this world an opportunity to better herself and her family. It has been a extremly gratifying experience! I helped a young mother in Africa purchase a solar lantern as my first gift. Once she pays back the small loan, I gift it to another woman, and it goes on and on. Read More15 Reply Michele1 year agoMicheleHow wonderful! What a great idea you came up with! 0 Reply Dusty Su1 year agoDusty SuA beautiful, but painful, legacy of love. Such a wonderful path made out of one that could have left you embittered. Bless you. 2 Reply Trish1 year agoTrishThank You for sharing, DeVonna💜 2 Reply Mica1 year agoMicaOh, DeVonna, what a sad and wonderful story. I have an adopted nephew, Tim, who was a young adult in some situation – I forget the details – and he heard a woman in the next room say, ‘I had 2 children, Tim and Crystal.’ Tim ran over to introduce himself – he was a large and not particularly attractive looking person by this time. The woman shouted ‘No! No! You’re not my son!’ or something of the sort. Tim is 42ish now and a good guy, mentally limited but enthusiastically learning Russian. 4 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioThat is lovely, DeVonna, and very inspiring! 5 Reply Toni1 year agoToniDeVonna, what a compassionate gift to the memory of your mother that heals on so many levels. Wow! Just reading about your generosity inspires me to forgive and move on past the shortcomings of my own upbringing and to be grateful for surviving the effects of trauma brought on by alcoholism, poverty, emotional abuse, violence and other emotional baggage. When sharing at an AA meeting an old timer came up to me and asked me if I forgave my grandfather for the abuse my grandmother and her child...DeVonna, what a compassionate gift to the memory of your mother that heals on so many levels. Wow! Just reading about your generosity inspires me to forgive and move on past the shortcomings of my own upbringing and to be grateful for surviving the effects of trauma brought on by alcoholism, poverty, emotional abuse, violence and other emotional baggage. When sharing at an AA meeting an old timer came up to me and asked me if I forgave my grandfather for the abuse my grandmother and her children suffered under his influence. When I said yes he said, good because that was me and now we can be friends. I thought that was odd and now I understand having read your story. As a child of an adult child of an alcoholic I had my issues and forgiveness has not come easy. I also suffered substance abuse and all that comes with that. Mental issues as well. It all comes with the territory. I’m doing well now but had many grieves to bare. I’m still dealing with the aftermath of the consequences of my own experiences. In reading what you did for your mother and how you grew up it gives me hope that more healing is to come and love moves beyond the grave. I truly believe that. Thank you for sharing. I almost deleted this reply but I think it is good to relate and let go so I too can move on. Read More9 Reply Mike S1 year agoMike SDeVonna, thank you for sharing about your mother. I am quite moved. 💕 6 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioAnd thank you, too, Toni. That is quite a powerful sharing. You both inspire me to be less judgmental, and more compassionate. 5 Reply Clare1 year agoClareI’ve felt been so isolated this past year that I made a conscious decision to be open for opportunities to interact with people. I’m an introvert so it’s a little scary. I look for ways I can serve. Maybe a compliment, helping someone reach something at the grocery store, just little things here and there but I have had so many meaningful connections that life doesn’t feel so lonely now. 9 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioWell done, Clare! I admire you for challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone. 🙂 3 Reply Mike S1 year agoMike SClare, many of us have felt similarly cut off. Loneliness and anxiety are common companions. It helps me to think of this time as if being on a long silent retreat where old wounds and persistent attachments can be healed. ðŸ™ðŸ¼ 7 Reply Clare1 year agoClareThank you Mike for your kind response. It has been a blessing to have this time to reflect and work towards leading a more spiritual life that I crave. 1 Reply devy1 year agodevyI remember when I was working at a swimming pool as a very young adult. I was teaching swimming within a school board when my pool manager asked me if I would be interested in helping run an evening adapted aquatics problem for children. Never having experience working with physically and mentally challenged, I felt really uncomfortable,but accepted the offer. Within a few minutes of the first class, I jumped in. I continued taking an adapted aquatics instructors course which later led me to a c...I remember when I was working at a swimming pool as a very young adult. I was teaching swimming within a school board when my pool manager asked me if I would be interested in helping run an evening adapted aquatics problem for children. Never having experience working with physically and mentally challenged, I felt really uncomfortable,but accepted the offer. Within a few minutes of the first class, I jumped in. I continued taking an adapted aquatics instructors course which later led me to a career path working un the field of community and social services from which I retired from 10 years ago. I learned that sometimes when faced with fear and apprehension, one must force themselves to give themselves and get involved as by doing so can open up new attitudes and a new life path. Read More8 Reply Antoinette1 year agoAntoinetteExistence is an act of giving. Beingness is an act of giving- interbeing with everything and everyone is an act of giving. Love for Mother Earth is an act of giving. When I walk I do my best to remember that I am being held by Mother Earth and all the amazing parts of this wonderful mysterious life. My act of giving is to choose to respond with love, kindness, patience, understanding, compassion and joy. My act of giving fills me up with compassion and it’s a never ending relationship. ðŸ™ðŸŒ...Existence is an act of giving. Beingness is an act of giving- interbeing with everything and everyone is an act of giving. Love for Mother Earth is an act of giving. When I walk I do my best to remember that I am being held by Mother Earth and all the amazing parts of this wonderful mysterious life. My act of giving is to choose to respond with love, kindness, patience, understanding, compassion and joy. My act of giving fills me up with compassion and it’s a never ending relationship. ðŸ™ðŸŒŽðŸŒ» Read More10 Reply Mike S1 year agoMike SBeing held by mother, Earth what a lovely thought.ðŸ™ðŸ¼ 5 Reply Trish1 year agoTrishI’m like the Grinch~my heart grows until I feel like I’ll burst. Giving of my time & attention is my all time favorite. It’s the gift for everyone and it’s exquisiteâï¸ 6 Reply EJP1 year agoEJPLife is about giving…..it fills your heart and soul. It’s always better to give than to receive. 6 Reply sunnypatti1 year agosunnypattiWhen you give, you get. Giving makes life richer. It offers up peace and joy, and perhaps some satisfaction of being a good human being! 6 Reply Ose1 year agoOseTo consider how I would feel enriched really feels strange in a way, as Howie already mentioned. Giving freely always is a gift, which is giving joy to all concerned, including myself, and this of course is a blessing in itself. Only to be able to give is a blessing, no matter what it might be. Contributing and exchanging here for example is a gift of sorts, where the resulting widening of inner and outer perspective; the honesty of the participants is a huge contribution for unfolding. In this ...To consider how I would feel enriched really feels strange in a way, as Howie already mentioned. Giving freely always is a gift, which is giving joy to all concerned, including myself, and this of course is a blessing in itself. Only to be able to give is a blessing, no matter what it might be. Contributing and exchanging here for example is a gift of sorts, where the resulting widening of inner and outer perspective; the honesty of the participants is a huge contribution for unfolding. In this sense, enrichment by giving I feel is a treasure. Read More8 Reply Howie Geib1 year agoHowie GeibSuch a strange question, or maybe I haven’t had enough coffee. If I am giving and being enriched then it is investing, not giving. It becomes strategic. I suppose I feel some pleasure in the ability to give as it is an act of generosity, and grateful to have enough to share. On reflecting on this I am aware that I operate from a position of abundance out of default, usually not based on the balance in my checkbook, but more on faith that I always get what I need. Also I have come to be suspici...Such a strange question, or maybe I haven’t had enough coffee. If I am giving and being enriched then it is investing, not giving. It becomes strategic. I suppose I feel some pleasure in the ability to give as it is an act of generosity, and grateful to have enough to share. On reflecting on this I am aware that I operate from a position of abundance out of default, usually not based on the balance in my checkbook, but more on faith that I always get what I need. Also I have come to be suspicious of any tendency on my part to attachment, so letting things go, sharing and flow seem the right dynamic. But the system seems more a matter of physical dynamics than virtue. By making room I allow for energy to flow through. This seems to be the way my life works best. So in that sense, it is strategic I guess. Read More12 Reply Dusty Su1 year agoDusty SuI think it is like pouring perfume on another; you do not intend to receive from it, but you end up with the scent enriching your life. 2 Reply Michele1 year agoMicheleGiving makes you feel good. I enjoy it very much. April is Donate Life Month. Giving the gift of life is the ultimate gift that enriches many people. If you are already not a donor please consider…https://www.donatelife.net/ Happy Friday:) 9 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioI am, and so is everyone in my family. My sister was a nurse, and when she died she was able to give life to many people, and sight. It is a wonderful feeling knowing we could help others in their time of need. 5 Reply « Previous 1 2 My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2022, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb