A Year of Abundance for Special Needs FamiliesSampel

Day 2 – Irrational Generosity

In 2021, Jane was 7 and we could feel the impending need for an adaptive vehicle in our future. Unfortunately, those vehicles are very expensive, so we kept wondering how God would come through when the time came to purchase. Around the same time, Rich and I recorded a podcast for special needs families during the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the families who listened to our podcast ended up losing their daughter at only 6yrs old to her disability. Having never met us in person, they reached out to us on Instagram and, long story short, offered to give us their adaptive vehicle that once belonged to their daughter. We couldn’t believe their generosity in their time of loss. But their heart for giving will stick with us forever and remains a huge blessing to our family.

When we experience tragedy, or are living in the day-to-day of caregiving, it can feel a lot like we are operating in survivor mode. Our tendency can be to do the bare minimum, just trying to get through the day, but we were never meant to live in scarcity, hoarding resources and feeling like we’re scraping by spiritually and physically. Thankfully, we serve a dynamic, abundant, and generous Father. He loves to pour out on His obedient kids. There is a reason that the prophet Isaiah calls him “Mighty God” AND “Everlasting Father”, because any good father loves giving good gifts to His kids. But God doesn’t end it there – He offers us the opportunity to partner with Him in this spirit of generosity!

There have been many occasions in our life that my husband Rich and I have experienced “survivor mode”, wishing we could afford to eat out more, or wondering how we would cover a big expense. It is during these times that we practice a phrase that has yet to fail us: “Exercise irrational generosity!” That means, when we need more, we give more away. Backwards, isn’t it? For our society, yes, but for God’s economy, no! We have consistently unclogged the drain of blessing in our lives and successfully battled scarcity by actively searching for ways to be generous.

It can feel scary to step out in financial and material generosity when you don’t feel like you have enough, but God promises to meet you on the other side of your sacrifice. Ask yourself where you can give. Ask who you can give to. Hear Him answer you and watch Him exceed your expectations. He has done it for us, time and time again. Like the family who gave us the van we needed, you can see abundant fruit through your life, even in the middle of tragedy.