If you know me, you probably know that I am a giver. I will give you all my time, all my energy, all my money, and all my resources and probably not say a darn thing about it to you, even if I do feel like I am being used. It is just how I am. Some may call me a push over, but I like to think I’m just nice, maybe a little too nice. But the truth is, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I do get used sometimes. I know this, heck most of the time I allow it and then complain about it later. But then there are times when people need me to be the giver and these are the times I am the happiest to do so.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of a sweet smile to a stranger on the street.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of a big hug to my mom after a long day at work.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of prayer to a friend in need.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of change to a homeless man downtown.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of my time to do volunteer work.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of good advice to my best friend.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of a chance to someone who needs the opportunity to succeed.

Sometimes I need to be the giver of joy.

The life of a giver is not always easy. Sometimes we feel used and like we will never get anything back that we have given. And you know what? Maybe we won’t. But that isn’t what life is about.

Life is about making that stranger smile for the first time all day because you smiled at them first.

Life is about being a relief to your mom because she had a long day at work a needed at second to remember why she works so hard.

Life is about the power of prayer.

Life is about helping those who need it so that one day they can pass that along to someone else.

Life is about spending a little bit of your time helping make the world a better place to be.

Life is about being there for the ones you love.

Life is about watching those you’ve helped succeed and do great things in the world around them.

Life is about watching joy spread around the world in a time where there seems to be none.

So to those who are givers, keep being givers and never be ashamed. You have so much to offer the world around you and it is a beautiful life to live.

And I’ll leave you with this final thought: “There are three kinds of givers -- the flint, the sponge, and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are you?”