The Ripple Effect

Have you ever heard of the term, "No one can serve two masters"? Recently, I've been noticing that despite my efforts, I still serve money. I am a slave to chasing after money. Yes, you heard me, I, Mrs. Toss It, am still too obsessed with money.

Every single one of my actions is generally connected to money.

Well, I mean most decisions are based on monetary loss or gain. To go out or not too? What is there to do tonight? Can we really afford a new lamp? Can I recreate that for cheaper? What's the cheapest can of corn? Even in my frugality, I still serve money.

I was hit with this cold hard reality when I was invited to play Bingo with a few of my good friends. The first question to come out of my mouth was, "How much is it?" When faced with the reply "$30", I instantly dismissed the possibility of my going. Number one, because I could play Bingo for free at home, and number two $30 seemed kind of expensive! So I missed out on relationships because of my unwillingness to cough up the cash.

My final slap in the face was when I attempted to get rid of my desk and wall organizer. I put them on a local buy and sell facebook page hoping to just get rid of them! I don't know if it was because I was extremely attached to them, or I'm a slave to money, but I ended up listing them pretty expensively. I also got pretty upset when no buyer came. Well, when I lowered the price to something much more reasonable, I got a lady interested in my desk - we agreed on the price of $75.

When the weekend came for her to come and pick it up, I received this message, "Hi Aubrey, I'm sorry to tell you this but my husband's check wasn't as great as we were expecting so I'm going to have to pass on the desk. If you have another buyer interested you can pass it on, if not we are still very interested and are hoping to be able to purchase next pay period."

What was I to do?

As a young Christian woman, I got that feeling. Some may call it their gut, or their subconscious, but I call it God.

"This isn't yours to sell."

Now, I know that some of my readers may find this difficult to understand. But I really want to share this story with you, and I will do my best to explain it in a non-preachy way. However, recently I've been faced with the idea that when I die, I can't take anything with me. And even more-so, I consider all my of possessions to be gifts from God, rather than things of my own possession. Therefore, none of "my" things are truly mine, but God's.

So you could imagine my anxiety when that gut wrenching voice spoke to me.

"This isn't yours to sell."

Am I a giver or am I a keeper? Am I able to give without debating the ripple effect it will have on my future? Can I give without determining the sacrifice I will have to make as result? Or do I keep to myself? Do I hoard my gifts, my resources, my materials, my things, my money from the world?

Simple living, (to me) is about having more time for people, rather than more room and money for stuff. Simple living, (to me) is about humanity. It's about having a more abundant life, with richer relationships, wealthier hobbies, prosperous ministries, and upscale dreams. It's giving, rather than keeping all that rich, abundant, wealth to myself. It's sharing life with people. 

So I replied - "I totally understand and appreciate your honestly. So I hope you'll be okay with mine: This desk means so much to me. It was the first project my husband and I have ever took on and it has been a huge blessing to me. Therefore, I hope it can be a blessing to you. Please let me know when you are available to stop by and pick it up for free. I want you to have it because I know it will go to a good home. If I can get rid of it in a positive way, and know that someone will love it as much as I do, then that is all I can truly ask for."

I want to be a giver. 

And would you imagine the ripple effect it had?



The next day, after receiving my message, this lady created a post with this image and text saying

"This quote is very true as a new friend is beyond kind with her giving today! I had been looking on Pinterest on 24 days of random act of kindness to do with the kids in December. But now because of a random act of kindness from Aubrey, we will begin tomorrow and carry it on until Christmas!!! By then it should become a daily habit to continue everyday!!! My birthday wish for this weekend is for my Facebook friends to also begin doing a random act of kindness everyday!!!! Thank you"

I think this would be a great time to mention that the day the lady came to pick up the desk was her birthday! However, if that wasn't enough of a reaction for you, she replied to my message saying,

"Oh my goodness that is so amazing of you!!! If you are sure you want to let it go for free we could pick it up anytime Sunday  if that would work for you. What an amazing blessing you are giving to us, THANK YOU!! If you decide you would rather try to get money out of it I would completely understand!"

Needless to say, when she arrived, I felt like I had known her all my life. She ended up leaving with not only my desk but my wall organizer too. Not an ounce of anxiety or regret slipped into my stomach as they drove away. And I realized that I was blessed, and because I was blessed, I could also bless others. The painstaking reality of it all is that giving feels better than keeping something to yourself. Blessing others, helping them, making them feel good, lifting them up, are the most beautiful qualities of our humanity. If we cling to our possessions, to our wealth, to whatever gifts we have been given, we lose the ability to serve our fellow people.

And in that realization comes an even greater one - the ripple effect of our sacrifices are only negative when we look within ourselves. They become far greater when we notice the rise and fall of the ever growing rings in the lives of others.

Lets turn away from our lives and share it with others.

Live simply today.

With love,
Aubrey