IS GIVING THE SAME AS RECEIVING? by Jo Ann Kelly

[Thea]

A Christmas story repeat from the archives.
December 2nd, 2010.

In this holiday season and celebration of the birth of our Lord and
Savior, may we have a spirit of giving and helping others. I'd like
to share a story with you, below, sent to me in e-mail. The story is
true, and the events begin in the 1940's, as presented at a recent
men's fellowship prayer breakfast by my first cousin, Herman Joe
Phillips, who lives in Arkansas. We've shared many memories of years
gone by for the last couple of years, and I especially enjoyed this
shared memory. I hope you will enjoy it also and let it touch your
heart.

Scripture teaches us,"...For God loveth a cheerful giver."
2 Cor. 9: 7.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For
with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you
again."
---Luke 6:38

IS GIVING THE SAME AS RECEIVING?

To help understand this, let me tell you a story about a young mother
of four, who lost her husband, at the age of thirty. She struggled
through funeral arrangements and buried her husband, after just nine
short years of marriage. During these happy nine years, her husband
made a good living as a union truck driver, with a standard run to Ft
Smith, Arkansas.

He was in the process of building a new house, had the sub floor down,
and was ready to start standing walls. Upon returning home from
working on the house one Saturday, he became ill and was rushed to the
hospital in Little Rock, where he underwent emergency appendicitis
surgery. Everything seemed alright. The next day, he was recovering
well, and that morning sat up and was shaved by the nurse. Then things
went wrong, that afternoon shortly after one P.M. he experienced a
blood clot of the heart, and died, leaving four young children and a
loving wife. This young mother found out later that the Doctor that
operated on him had been drinking, and had botched the surgery. Not
much you could do in those years, but say a mistake had been made, and
move on.

She when to work after the funeral and proceeded to finish building
the house that her husband started. With help from her Father on the
weekends, she completed the house, and moved the four children in,
within three months.

In May 1948, This young mother started her lifetime of raising four
young children, the oldest at six years, with Muscular Dystrophy, and
the youngest girl at six months. As fate would have it, living in the
country with four young children, with one in need of special services
each month, offered only at the Pulaski special school in Little Rock;
she decided to sell the 60 acres and move to town. She sold the land,
house, barn, chickens, and a jersey milk cow, all for eight thousand
six hundred dollars, and moved to town in July of 1950.

In September of 1950, her father passed away and her mother moved in
to help with keeping the children, as she looked for work. This young
mother struggled again to find work to support her family, and finally
found employment at Othenhimer Brothers in Little Rock. She would walk
to the bus stop two blocks away, early each morning, in a old worn-out
green coat and catch a bus to downtown North Little Rock, transfer to
Little Rock, and then catch a trolley to the railroad station where
Otheminer Brothers was located next door. After working all day, she
would repeat this process, sometimes getting home around 6:30 in the
afternoon. This happened five days a week, fifty two weeks a year,
without fail. She could not get sick, because she needed the money to
provide for her family. Her starting paycheck was $27.00 per week.

She never asked for any kind of assistance, too proud. The local
community lumber company would always show up at her door on
Thanksgiving and Christmas, with enough groceries to provide a nice
dinner for each event. She never turned these gifts down, although she
really wanted too, but knew better. The children were excited about
receiving such a bountiful gift of food. The children were always fed.
The youngest boy would often ask his mother if she wanted that last
biscuit, and her answer was always, "(No), I'm not hungry, you eat
it." There is no telling how many times this young mother went without
eating, just to ensure her children were all fed.

The three younger children were raised, educated, married, and found
their place in life. This Mother retired after 34 years of service,
bought a car and learned to drive at 66 years of age. The oldest boy
was kept at home, receiving the best of care daily, until his mother
died at the age of 83. She only had one last wish, "Do not put the
oldest boy in a nursing home, he would not survive there." The three
younger children obeyed her wish. The oldest boy (with muscular
dystrophy) stayed at his home, with a care giver helping with his
daily needs, until his death at the age of 62.

This woman made her mark on many lives, through giving to others,
never asking much for herself. She was dealt a rough hand in life, and
never complained.

So I ask you again, during this holiday season, does giving really
have the same meaning as receiving? I think it does, because it was
that special gift of relentless giving from the mother in this story,
willing to give more than she received. So as you go through this
Holiday Season. I would only ask that you give from the heart, and
receive from the heart, whatever might come your way. Because giving
is truly the same as receiving. I know all this to be true because, I
am the youngest boy in this story of giving and receiving .

Happy Holidays,

Herman Joe Phillips

**Note: My cousin, Joe, related to me that he was unable to finish
the above talk at his prayer breakfast, due to the memories. One of
his other brothers in Christ finished it for Him, just as written. I
remember hearing family stories of the strength of my aunt, whom I
never had the privilege to meet, and how she devoted her entire life
to providing for and educating her children. She had been told her
oldest child, Jesse, would not live to be very old, but with her
special love and care given him at home, he proved the physicians were
wrong, as God is the greatest Physician. This story shows that one
really can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens them.

Giving is a blessing, just as receiving. When we give unto others; we
show forth the love of Christ and will be abundantly blessed.

J. P.'s Inspirations

Used with permission.