Generous Goes the Love

Generosity is another way to talk about love. Love doesn't insist that the punishment meet the crime. Rather, love is always on the lookout for a left-handed way to slide someone an extra helping of mercy. Generous love plays a late game of chess with the boy who's had a whale of a day, the same boy who's lost his mind more than once this weekend, the same boy who made his mom and dad pull the tag-team card. Hey, Miska, you crawl into bed with the book, I'll take the next round.



Generosity doesn't hold back, waiting until one's whims (or demands) are sated. Love looks for what particular grace another needs; and then, as best one's able, love gives that costly grace away. I love Francis Maitland Balfour's words: "The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all people, charity."



Find out what you can give, and go give it. And if you're having trouble deciding, just give away love until you figure it out.