True Generosity

I am always amazed this time of year the acts of both selfishness and generosity that I see. It's almost like we see people's true spirit during the holiday season. For example, I overheard someone in the hallway at work the other day saying...

"well, it was nice that I got it from her, but I really have no use for it and now I have to figure out where it came from so I can get something I really want."

...not only was this person not thankful or grateful for the gift, but was almost annoyed that someone was thoughtful enough to get her a gift.

On the other hand, every year I am amazed at the generosity I witness, but also that I experience. This year definitely is one of the top experiences for me personally.

Being the guitar nerd that I am, I am part of guitar forums where nerds like me talk about all things guitar related. Over the past several months, I've become friends with a guy from my home state of Iowa. He's a very well off guy, and has a very large guitar collection. There is a particular guitar in his collection that I had been admiring for quite some time, and I had told him if he ever wanted to sell it to let me know, and if I could, I would buy it from him. Well about 3 weeks ago I got an e-mail from him that said something to this effect...

"Hi Andy - we're heading out for the holidays. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and travel safely. Sincerely, .....

p.s. I sent you something that will be arriving next week. Just remember to pay it forward when you can."

So, I didn't really think anything of it at the time and returned the e-mail wishing him a Merry Christmas as well, and so on and so forth. The following Wednesday, as very large box arrived at my door and low and behold....it was the EXACT guitar that I had been admiring! Inside the case was a note that read..."Andy - I hope you enjoy this guitar as much as I have. It is yours to keep. Just remember to do this for someone else when you can. Merry Christmas!!"



I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!! Here is a guy that I've never met face-to-face and he sent me this guitar no questions asked. What an amazing display of generosity!!

It's acts like this that remind me why we celebrate Christmas. For all of our generosity and gift giving, we will never match what God did for us those 2000+ years ago. He sent His ONLY son to take away EVERY sin that would ever be committed, no questions asked. All we have to do is ask Him to forgive us...now THAT is true generosity and I hope we all take the time to remember that this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Down on the farm!

Having been raised on a farm, I love to get to drive the big green machines every year, and I have missed getting to do that lately. So on a nice weekend this fall, Big G and I drove the 2 1/2 hours to my uncle's farm in southwest MN. He was right in the thick of combining corn for the fall and we got to ride along in the combine with him. Big G was a little nervous about climbing up into the big combine, but once I got him up there he didn't want to get down! Of course I didn't remember to take a picture of him riding along, but got a couple good pictures of him driving one of the old John Deere tractors.



I remember riding along on these older tractors when I was a little boy and it was such a lot of fun getting to take him along for the ride too.



It was a great day and it was a lot of fun to get to share the experience with Big G. Hopefully next year Little G will be ready to go along for a ride too!