In today's Share Your Story, we meet Rachel Molder. Rachel doesn't mind giving money because she doesn't miss it after it is gone. However, this year Rachel challenged herself to give something she covets most, her time and her energy. Here’s Rachel story about the seemingly easy task of making muffins, and what she learned amid flour, sugar, and finely chopped walnuts.
It started with a Facebook prompt: I, for one, am tired of cookie cutter store-bought items. I promise to send something homemade to the first five people who leave a comment on this update. In turn, you promise to re-post this as your status. The rules are that the items must be made by you personally and must be received by your five folks within 2011. Be creative and let's see what we can come up with!
How often do we sign up for these silly prompts expecting nothing to really happen? Well, yesterday I dispatched 6 muffins to the first girl to sign my prompt. It wasn't as easy as I expected it to be.
Why is giving hard?
I started with a batch of banana muffins last week, but they collapsed because I didn't bake them long enough. So we had to eat a dozen sticky sweet muffins - daughter loved them!
Then on Sunday I baked a batch of Buttermilk Spice Muffins and created a home logo/letter - which took me until 11pm on a work night - arrrugh! And I kept wanting to make an actual book style, that folds and has pages - I had to tell myself to STOP!
Why can't I do anything small? It has to be impressive, well thought out, worth the $7.90 postage.
On Monday I labored to find the perfect box at work. Nothing fit. I spent almost an hour looking for packaging materials! Huh? Why isn't giving easier? It's LABOR! I want to give up.
At first, I was ambitious, wanting to send muffins to everyone on my fifty person Christmas card list - how cool would it be to receive gifts randomly throughout the year? Now, I just want to make it through the five people on my Facebook list!
I've wondered if the challenges faced are because giving should NOT be easy. It's easy to give money. I've given money over the years, once it's gone from my account I don't miss it.
My time and energy I DO covet. My house is dirty, the dishes are piled up in the kitchen, I NEED to spend more time surfing the internet - kidding (giant grin). My point is that my initial desire to make muffins for all my friends is not dimmed but definitely harder and more work then I imagined. Or maybe I just need more practice giving!
Thanks, Rachel. Do you have a story you'd like to share about giving? Take a minute and check out Share Your Story.
Photo credit.
8 comments:
Rachel,
You know why I like this post? It reminds me that giving can be on a really small level. . .a six muffins kind of level. It reminds me to look for ways that I can give in small and yummy ways!
I agree Rachel, sometimes this is the hardest. Sacrificing our agenda to bless...but it is such a good and necessary discipline.
Thanks for sharing, and Amy, thanks for hosting;)
I love this post because I saw all those Facebook prompts and thought the idea was great. However, I did not do it for the very reason you pointed out. I get hung up on losing time and energy. Last night, I watched the Jane Austin movie, Emma, and I was reminded of how the handwritten letter used to be a way to give to others. Today, everything is so digital. You have inspired me to think of more ways to give to others that shows I care more than a couple of clicks :) Enjoyed this, Rachel!
That is so awesome! It really is about the small things. And I love that even the small things take effort. I think Rachel is right, giving shouldn't be "easy".
You know, Rachel, I think I see a booming business in your future! :-)
I can very much see myself in this post! If I am committed to giving, I feel I have to make it so big that I am overwhelmed and never accomplish it. In the meantime the friend who I was hoping to bless has turned around and blessed ME with a so simple gift, not extravagant, not "perfect", and there I stand like a schmuck. It was so simple, and I made it ridiculous and didn't follow through.
Great post!
I know giving time is the hardest for me. This was a great post!
Sometimes we feel we don't have time to give, of ourselves. I find that i say when do you need help let me put it down on my calender and it stays. I work around this time. driving a young friend who is partially blind to go to the bank. great warm feeling in my heart. rose
Wow, this is super cool! I love your generosity and your sweet heart. I sure could use an order of homemade muffins! ;)
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