By Patricia Henshaw of Independence, Missouri, USA

…and above all things, clothe yourselves with the bonds of charity, as with a mantle, which is a bond of perfectness and peace; pray always, that you may not faint until I come; behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

[From “Are You Really Listening?”, Nov/Dec 2023 Herald, pp. 28–29]

That day at school, the young boy had been struggling with issues that prevented him from giving his full attention to schoolwork. The disruption was so great that he was moved to a safe place in another part of the school. After a time, I was notified that he was ready to talk.

I sat on the floor with him, and after a few minutes he began to talk about what had happened. It was as if he were pouring out his heart. Not saying a word, I listened. As he finished, tears began to roll down his cheeks. He turned to me and said, “Jesus doesn’t like me anymore.”

After a moment I said, “Jesus probably is not very happy with your behavior, but he will always love you, no matter what.”

The Enduring Principle Grace and Generosity reminds us that a way of sharing, besides our monetary gifts, is through listening—really listening. Too often as we listen to someone we forget to really listen because we are thinking about what our response might be.

We are given opportunities to be good stewards of generosity. We should willingly share our abilities with others. Sometimes we might find ourselves in uncomfortable situations, but through sharing generously we are being the hands and feet of Jesus. This type of relationship-building allows us to realize how important it is to share our gifts.

Sharing can allow us to be generous with our gifts. Generosity comes in many forms. How can you become generous with your gifts?

Prayer Phrase

“…my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28).

Spiritual Practice

Light

Close your eyes and become centered with your breath. As you breathe gently in and out, reflect on the statement, “The light of God is in all things.” The light has a bright, soft beauty and radiates God’s healing love. The light of God reaches you and permeates you with a deep sense of peace. Rest in the light as it surrounds and fills you. Thank God that you live in God’s light, and it lives in you.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.