For the longest time, I promise I had this sign on my forehead that said, ” Please , I don’t mind, Take advantage of me. ”
I have only recently realized that being Generous is not a bad thing, but one must hold to boundaries, or one will get beat down by doing good. Now , I want to be very clear in saying that doing good is not a bad thing. I just had the belief that , if you do something nice for someone, and serve them until you run out of energy, they will realize it, and will return the favor some day. This is not the case.
I lived life from the belief that , if I was kind to everyone, and did what they needed me to do, they would appreciate it. I was wrong. I ended up realizing that I was using all of my energy to serve and please people who could care less, unless it was benifiting them to care. This came from people who call themselves Christian too. I think that is what made it worse.
I want to take the time here to say, I am not talking about doing good, serving, being generous in expectancy of it being reciprocated. There will be, and I would rather there be times when the service and generosity is simply because I want to be Christ to you. But there is a huge difference in serving to be a blessing, and serving out of a sense of lack .
Scripture says this,
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
And , While I whole heartedly agree with this verse. I let myself believe that God, in all his might and power, and goodness , wanted us to serve people and treat them as though we were door mats and push overs. I lived my life like this, and it was exhausting. The Lord, in all his goodness, did show me that is not what he meant by this and other verses. See, doing good, does not always mean pushing yourself to the breaking point of letting people walk all over you. It does not mean that people get to use you and not value you , as a person, in their lives. It means that you , respect and value people enough to set boundaries, and call out the Gold in people. It means that you serve them, by saying, I love you enough not to let you hurt me, or yourself anymore. It means saying no to people so that you can say yes to the things God has for you.
So, Generosity has taken a new meaning on for me.
To be Generous with Grace, Mercy and Love, and time Toward my self and those around me without letting it infringe on my boundaries and self-worth.
We, as humans, as Christians, as people, are not meant to be taken advantage of. But we are called to love those who are hurting, care for the broken, widowed and orphaned. And speak life into those around us.
Be encouraged my friends
-Rachael
Accepting The Peace 