Comments on: Not Giving When You Know You Should: A Haunting Story

By: Stephen Hopson

Stephen Hopson — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:36:37 +0000

Social Marketplace (do you have a name?) (Wink, wink) (Hint, Hint):

I can certainly understand the feeling when you give and give over and over without any reciprocation, there’s the tendency to feel “taken advantage of” but my rule of thumb is to give without any expectation. And if I ever reach that tipping point where I feel that way, I back off and find another recipient who might be more grateful.

Glad you enjoyed this one.

By: Social Marketplace

Social Marketplace — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:40:08 +0000

As they say a friend in need is a friend indeed. I always try to help less fortunate people but sometimes when I give to the same ones over and over I feel taken advantage of because here I am working hard for my money and then others just take. Ah well, I did my part to help society. Nice read.

By: Stephen Hopson

Stephen Hopson — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:41:27 +0000

Matt:

Welcome aboard - thanks for joining in on the discussion here. Glad you enjoyed reading this one. I was definitely a little perturbed by the experience but have never forgotten it. Weird how it happened the way it did but I learned something from it.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:53:12 +0000

great story. I think most would have been freaked out by that. But hopefully we can all get past the initial shock of it in the future.

Matts last blog post..MediaTemple GS Customers Beware Site Down for 23 hours

By: Stephen Hopson

Stephen Hopson — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:01:41 +0000

Lisa:

It is stories like this that always reminds me of the power of giving - thanks for sharing yours. I loved it!

By: Lisa Callsen

Lisa Callsen — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:58:09 +0000

You know I once read a newspaper article about 10 years ago about a woman on the streets of Chicago asking for money. She then made it out of the shelter she was in and got a job and had another start on life. She went back to the place where she asked for help and handed out cookies with a note that said “Thank You.”

It also reminds me of the “What would you do?” series running on ABC’s Primetime.

Lisa Callsen’s last blog post..Heightening Deaf Awareness

By: Stephen Hopson

Stephen Hopson — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:55:43 +0000

Jennifer:

What you said in the last paragraph “if God wants me to give, I try to remember that what I’m giving was only a loan in the first place.”

In other words, it’s not really your money - it’s God’s! I remember someone telling me this a long time ago or maybe I read it somewhere. But it’s an interesting thought, isn’t it?

Thanks for stopping by for the first time and leaving a message - it’s truly appreciated!

By: Jennifer C. Einolf

Jennifer C. Einolf — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:03:21 +0000

When we argue with a strong impulse to give, we are usually either trying to get out of the obligation or we are trying to control an uncontrolable situation. If you give in love, as a reflection of His love, you trust that the impulse is good and that the results will be right. Even if that money is used to buy drugs today, it might be the thing that allows the person to live until the day that they finally bottom out and become what they were meant to be. I am very grateful that it is not up to me to keep track of the plan for the rest of the world.

If God wants me to give, I try to remember that what I’m giving was only a loan in the first place. It doesn’t always work–I have my share of chilly what-if’s. But when I do obey the moment, I am rewarded with a good feeling, a lesson and a memory to sustain me. Every time.

By: Sunday Reading 16 March 2008

Sunday Reading 16 March 2008 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:11:11 +0000

[...] Not Giving When You Know You Should: A Haunting Story Stephen Hopson tells a story about a decision point in his life. We’ve all been there. [...]

By: Stephen Hopson

Stephen Hopson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:33:06 +0000

Angela:

You’re not alone - being leery of scams going on. I guess the best measure we have to protect ourselves is our own intutition. If something “doesn’t feel right,” then I guess that means we do not have to feel obligated to give and still come out without feeling guilty.