Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over

Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over

My doorbell rang in the early afternoon—at the same time my phone dinged with this text from a friend: “You home? Open your front door.” She was standing on my porch with a case of my favorite sparkling water. I’d asked her earlier in the week to remind me of the name of the tiny market near her house that sold this beverage by the case; she’d decided to go me one better.

Fast-forward to a weekly women’s Bible study I’ve attended for years. Before the lecture began, another friend sat down next to me for a hug and a quick catch-up. Her darling pair of earrings caught my eye. “Those are great,” I told her. “They look so pretty on you!” Almost before I could get the compliment out, she had the first one off. I thought she was handing it to me to admire up close, so I held out my hand. Then she took out the other earring, and placed them both in my hand. “You take them,” she said. “Really. A friend sells them. I can get another pair.” I put them on right there on the spot, wowed and humbled by her spontaneous generosity.

Later that week, at church, another precious friend who noted my uncharacteristic-for-Sunday flats (for balance) pointed to her own flat, sturdy shoes and said, “These are great. What size do you wear?” When I told her, she slipped her foot out of one, saying, “Just try it.” They were great. “I’m gonna give you these,” she said. “No, you’re not,” I told her. “You can’t go home barefoot. I’ll get a pair. Just tell me where you got them.” She did—but the next week she came to church in tennis shoes and handed me her comfy flats.

Sometimes the gifts come in a crazy, unexpected flurry—and you’re left breathless at God’s demonstration of his own great grace and mercy. “See,” he seems to say, “I can bless you anywhere, anytime. And you can do the same to others.” Together, pressed down, shaken together, running over, we can put flesh on our great, invisible, everlasting treasure.

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

Luke 6:38, MSG