Learning to Give Outside of our Comfort Zone

We’re in the season of giving and receiving. For some, it’s all about giving, and for others, it’s all about receiving.

Which one is the most important to you?

God gave more than was required, and we are the beneficiaries of His generosity. We celebrate the Christmas season as a reminder of His love for the whole world.

When I think of generosity, many stories of giving and receiving in big and small ways come to mind.

I benefitted from generous people back in the days when I was a waitress at a truck stop. It was a whole new world for me, and it’s there that I discovered if I make my customers happy, I’ll most likely get a generous tip.

I loved getting tips from my customers. As soon as a customer left, I would go clear the table, always looking for the tip. Tips in those days were a nickel, dime, or a quarter. A dollar bill was very generous.

I seldom eat at a restaurant without thinking about the days I worked at the little truck stop, and it reminds me to be generous.

All of us can be givers, but generosity is giving more than is required. A generous person delights in giving more than is required.

As I became an adult and built a successful business, my understanding of generosity grew, and I was challenged daily with how to be a more generous person.

The line I used at Auntie Anne’s was, “We give, to get, to give again.”

What this means is that you start by giving what you have. God doesn’t ask us to give what we don’t have, although He has stretched me many times as we learned how to be generous.

As we gave generously through Auntie Anne’s, God gave us more, and this showed us that generosity creates an atmosphere of plenty. Give, and it shall be given to you. Out of this, we could then give even more.

Giving is an opportunity to brighten someone’s day.

During the Christmas season a few years ago, I was asking God to show me how to be generous and meet a need for someone.

As I was praying about it, I felt Him say to me, “Go and find the people in need.”

I was a bit stunned. Does this mean I just get in my car and drive around and find the need? The answer was YES.

So I got in my car and started driving in search of a need. I was nervous and very uncomfortable about this way of giving.

I could give to people around the world by simply putting a check in the mail and feel satisfied knowing I was meeting a need somewhere, but this was very different.

With cash in hand, I drove about a mile from my house and stopped at a trailer that looked nearly abandoned. My curiosity got the best of me, and I parked my car, looking for signs of life.

I knocked on the door and waited. In about a minute, a young man came to the door looking a bit perplexed.

I quickly introduced myself as Anne and told him I just came by to wish him a “Merry Christmas.”

Then I asked if there’s anything he wants or needs for Christmas. I was prepared to give him whatever he wanted.

His response surprised me, “I can’t think of a thing I need.”

Then he paused and said, “Unless you can find my dad and bring him home for Christmas.”

I was at a loss for words. I was not prepared to respond to that need.

It was easy for me to see his material needs, but what he wanted was his dad. So, we talked a bit about his dad, and I said I was sorry he wasn’t with him for Christmas.

I felt heartbroken as I continued the conversation and asked him again if there’s anything he would like for Christmas. Anything at all?

Again he smiled and said, “I can’t think of a thing.”

I couldn’t help but notice that when he smiled, he was toothless. I then heard myself asking him if he would like to have new teeth? (Talk about being bold and stepping outside my comfort zone!)

He smiled real big and said, “Well, sure, but I can’t afford new teeth.”

He thought I was kidding, but when he realized I would help him with his teeth, he was beyond happy!

We made all the arrangements, and within a short time, the dentist had him fixed up with a beautiful smile.

This 18-year-old kid was a happy young man, and I was ecstatic!

That day I felt generous, and I knew I met one single need in my community.

I share this story because it was the most unlikely and unusual gift I have ever given.

I want to encourage you to be generous and to step outside your comfort zone by being open to radical generosity.

Generosity can be spontaneous!
Generosity is giving hilariously!
Generosity may take you by surprise!
Generosity is not calculated and may seem irresponsible!

One thing is certain: being generous will change us from the inside out. That day I was nervous and nearly caved into fear, but courage moved me toward generosity.

Be courageous and try something new and different this year during the Christmas season.

Share with us your generosity story over on Facebook or Instagram. I’d love to hear it.

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