04 May Sharing, Caring, and Being Christian

Dear Westwood Church family,

This past Sunday, our Westwood Kids participated in a Toy Swap; they did so after hearing about how early Christians shared all that they had, as described in the book of Acts. I was moved to hear about what happened on Sunday morning, as Pastor Diana told me how the kids took turns choosing a new toy to take home. With each toy that was picked, the person who’d brought it to the swap was invited to tell its new recipient, “I give this to you in love.”

What a beautiful experience! I’m so glad for the ways our Children’s Ministry creates loving spaces for our young people to learn how to give and how to receive–how to be a part of a generous and joyous community together.

Giving and receiving are both such important parts of our practice of living. Both are a gift, and both require some amount of humility.

I’ve been thinking of this, in part, because there are times when I still find it hard to receive gifts, and times when I struggle to give with a generous heart. I was raised to value self-sufficiency, and take pride in “pulling my own weight.” Though I’ve gotten much better at receiving care, there are times when it feels threatening to my pride and uncomfortable to my sense of self. And, there are times when I’m not sure I’m ready to share–when I want to control what happens to a gift after I give it, or when I question whether someone else will really be helped by what I have to offer.

Then, other times, I’m moved to tears by the generosity I get to catch sight of in our community–by gifts that surprise me with their timing, their graciousness, their delight. It is such a gift to be a part of a community that practices generous giving and gracious receiving.

After all, we humans all need to receive care, and to give care.

I think of the many care-givers, both professional and volunteer, who contribute to our church life and the lives of our congregation. So much is made possible because of family members, neighbors, and care-workers who help tend to our human needs. For our children who need daycare, for our aging parents who need assistance, for friends who just had surgery and need help for a time, we depend on care-givers to help get us through. I am so grateful for such labor.

Ai-jen Poo, President and co-founder of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, is one person who is working not only to improve the working conditions and treatment of care-workers, but to change how we think about care-giving. She writes: “We need to collectively support the idea that care is valuable, that care is a shared need, and that we deserve to be supported in the care of our families, instead of feeling like a constant failure because we can’t afford it, or manage it, or find the right care.”

Care IS valuable. Sharing is a blessing. It is a gift to give and receive in community together. May you know such blessings today and always.

grace and peace,
Pastor Molly