Creative Giving to Preserve Dignity and Build Relationship

I love preaching and teaching except for one thing–God always seems to challenge me on whatever I put out there for other people to do. A week ago, I wrote a post about helping people during this tough economy. My post was prompted by an email from a friend who was in need of sixty thousand dollars for their business, but having trouble getting a loan. As I was giving the post a finally proof reading and about to hit the publish button, a man came through my door looking for assistance.  You need to understand something. Because the economy is whacked out, our normal discretionary monies for helping people are already exhausted for the year. Which means that often times I now have to make some personal choices about whether or not I am going to help someone.
 

FIGURING OUT A WIN/WIN

The man who came through my door was 50 something. His name was Tony. He was polite. He was looking for gas money. Initially, I decided to buy him $20 in gas. The conversation continued though and I discovered that he worked on air conditioning units. Specifically, he focused on performing annual maintenance of units in hotels. He also worked on residential units. An idea began to form in my mind. I needed my air conditioner cleaned. While I couldn’t loan my friend $60,000 for their business, I could hire a needy guy  for work I needed done. I hired Tony to clean my air conditioning system after calling a reference he provided from a local hotel.
 
Tony offered great service. He diligently cleaned my outdoor unit. Tony inspected my indoor unit, checked all our duct work and the air flow from individual vents. I researched what would be a fair price for his service while he was working. When all was said and done, Tony set a receipt on my breakfast table, stepped away and said, “You write down whatever you think is fair.” I paid for $20 dollars in gas, a gallon of cleaning solution and roughly another $40 dollars in cash. The total was less expensive than most service, but very reasonable pay and Tony walked away with enough extra solution to do a couple of more jobs. I also kicked in some rags to help him out. We both walked away feeling like winners. Best of all Tony walked away as a worker rather than a welfare recipient. Dignity is hard to put a price on.
 

THE LESSONS LEARNED

  1. I don’t have 60k to loan, but God puts people on my step that I can help with what I do have.
  2. It takes some time and creativity to figure out solutions that help everyone.  You can’t be in a hurry and figure out a solution like Tony and I did. You have to work at it.
  3. When there is an exchange for assistance it helps preserve someone’s dignity. I don’t have any problem giving without any strings attached. We do it all of the time. Sometimes though someone needs the gift of work as much as they need the money.
  4. Entering into partnerships to help someone yields a very different relationship. Tony and I have a different connection from the people that I have given gas to in the past. I haven’t found words to describe it.
  5. I still have a lot to learn about giving.

 
Well, I hope this helps you consider what you have and how you can help someone in need.  Perhaps, you have a skill.  For example, I know a dentist who has had a significant rise in the number of people who need dental work, but can’t pay for it.  He is doing more and more work for free on people.  May be he can’t do everything they need done, but sometimes he can at least get them out of pain.  That’s his gift.  What’s yours?
 

2 thoughts on “Creative Giving to Preserve Dignity and Build Relationship”

  1. That is awesome! I believe you gave him the best “handout” of all – dignity and an answer to his problems. This has challenged me to give in all areas of my life! Great post!

  2. Thanks. Sorry for taking so long on getting back to you. The summer surge of camps, VBS prep, weddings and travel has hit me a bit hard. I just wanted to mention that God-incidentally I had happened across your blog earlier on the day of your comment. Of all the blogs out there in the blogosphere I happened into yours and then you comment on mine on the same day. Go figure. BTW–Your blog http://howgreatismygod.blogspot.com has some great posts and I look forward to reading more. Peace in Christ to you, Skipper.

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