Walt Whitman was a very wise and grounded man. He lived ‘off the grid’ as we might describe it today. Living his own way enriched his perspective and his words are simple, yet powerful:
When I give, I give myself.
– Walt Whitman 1892
Sounds simple doesn’t it? Yet in reality it also assumes we know ourselves well enough to know what we have to give. Sure we have time, money, energy, and ideas…some or all of that may be a portion of who we are and what we can give. Yet what is it that we can give that is truly our own? That can only come from us? Is it our heart, our soul, our kindness, our opinions, or even some of our joy? Two people can say the same sentence, yet it means something completely different from each person…it is who they are that impacts the meaning of their words.
When you give, not just the tangible things like money or time, what can you give? How can you give yourself? I was talking with someone about this, and they told me outright that they don’t like giving because it means they have less. They thought it was more important to take care of themselves in that way when someone REALLY needs something, they have it to give. I wasn’t raised that way. I was taught that when we give a slice of our pie to someone else, somewhere down the road we will get three more pies or a hand in fixing our car. Giving is like planting seeds. The more you plant the more you yield. If you don’t plant, you eventually go any yield. Giving is like farming, you have to sow to reap. I told that person this, they thought I was very dumb and naive. And I walked away feeling VERY sorry for them.
The best thing I can do is give of what I have, give of myself, and those seeds will yield a great harvest somewhere down the line. It does not mean that we give to get. Giving of yourself helps you understand your abundances and blessings AND it helps you see the hand of God at work even when you forget that you gave away your slice of pie! He will out give you every single time….EVERY single time!
So get out there and give yourself away. Enrich the lives of those around you by doing what you can to make their lives better. In the end you will be better for it, and blessed beyond what you can measure.
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