I have received many nice gifts in my lifetime. Unfortunately, I remember very few of them. However, I remember many gifts that I have given to others.

I remember an art set that I anonymously gave to a young boy when I was only a teenager myself.
I remember a gift basket I gave to the custodian who cleaned my dorm in college.
I remember the outdoor swing that my husband and I gave to my Granny.
I remember a tent full of balls that we gave to our oldest son for his first Christmas.
I remember cookies and Kool-Aid that I once gave to strangers.

Isn’t that odd, that I remember gifts that I have given more than gifts I received? Perhaps you think it points to an arrogant nature on my part, but I am not mentioning these things in order to gain a pat on the back. And that is definitely not why I remember them.

Ben Carson once said, “Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.”

Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

I remember what I have given away because of the feelings associated with the giving. Primarily, I remember them because the giving brought me joy.

It’s said that if you put a treat into a small-necked bottle, a monkey will stick its little hand into the bottle to grab it. When it tries to pull its hand out, he will find it stuck. The fist cannot slip out of the small in which the hand slipped in.

Who knows if that is true? I personally have never had the opportunity to trap any monkeys. However, I am sure that we humans sometimes behave in similar ways.

We grab hold of things in this life that we find dear, but we find that our love for those things actually keep us trapped. We become trapped by the need to pay for and care for and tend to all the things that we purchase. We become trapped by our own greedy natures and desire to upgrade and get more. Remember the treat in the bottle isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s the monkey’s unwillingness to let it go that makes the situation difficult.

James 1:17 reminds us that all good gifts are from the Father, and 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that God loves a cheerful giver.

God gives us many nice gifts in this world. To some people, He gives money and material possessions. To others, He gives talents and skills. To all, He gives time and love. None of the Lord’s gifts are bad and in and of themselves. It’s when we are unwilling to let them go that we develop a problem.

God wants us to approach Him palms up, ready to receive the blessings that He wants to give us. I also believe we should enjoy those blessings in the same posture—ready to pass them along at God’s command. In doing so, I am confident that we are doubly blessed. Because, believe it or not, giving generously is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

Here are 10 (almost) free ways you can live generously of your time, this week.

Give your spot in line at the cash register to the person behind you.
Help a coworker complete a heavy assignment at work.
Support and cheer for a child at an after school event who may not have a lot of spectators.
Give a stranger a sincere compliment.
Post a kind comment on someone’s social media post or blog.
Think of a song that expresses what you feel about someone. Find it on youtube and send them the link.
Give a small gift to someone who serves in an often thankless profession: a janitor, a door monitor, the crossing guard at your child’s school, the receptionist at your doctor’s office, etc.
Write a note of thanks to a previous teacher or church leader.
Find something really nice in your home that you can give away, and then give it to a person you know would enjoy it.
Stand in the church foyer or parking lot and hand out candy on Sunday morning. (Thanks Pastor Tim!)