The Art of Giving and Gleaning: Part 4

The Art of Giving and Gleaning: Giving your Space

 by Becky Rosty

Well ladies, we made it to the final installation on learning to “give-as-you-go.” After wrestling with challenging topics like giving of our time and finances, we will end by learning to make space for the people around us. This post originally appeared on my blog here: http://beckyrosty.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/give-as-you-go-space/

Another way to give as we go is by making space. Not space in our schedules, we talked about that last time. I am talking about bursting our personal bubble to let others in. This is extra difficult for those of us “no-touchy” types.

After studying the book of Ruth further, I recognized that Boaz didn’t simply give Ruth some grain and move on. Rather, he noticed Ruth, a foreigner, and made space for her. (Ruth 2:14)

I know there are people in our community who feel like outsiders. I am trying to intentionally let go of “my space” and welcome them to be near me. Here are some practical ways to do so:

How to Intentionally make room for people to get close to you:

While sitting at the coffee shop or break room, feel free to put your phone down and invite someone new to sit with you.

Offer a hug to the “outsider” at your church. We all have that one annoying, smelly, awkward, person in our community. Be Jesus hands and feet and wrap love around them, even if only for a moment.

Offer a smile to that person of a different culture or language. A beautiful Muslim friend of mine won’t respond to a hand-shake, but she will definitely take a smile and genuinely look into your eyes as an offer of friendship.

Invite your child to bring home a new friend for a play date… encourage him to reach out to the lonely or “hard to love” kids at daycare.

Purposefully sit next to the “loner” at a social event, or even at your child’s school play. Ask questions and really listen. Or be a silent friend and encouraging presence.

On the airplane, be gracious about the arm rest for the person sitting next to you. Be conversational, if God gives you the opportunity. Or ask to pray for the person.

Have another way to create space? Share it! Leave a comment and feel free to push the “follow” button for more subjects like this.

Becky Rosty leads a college ministry with her husband in the shadow of the Big Horn mountains of Wyoming. She loves sunshine and s'mores and feels a personal responsibility to bring both to the people in her life.

Becky is also the future-mama to 3: twins due in July 2014, and a precious gift from South Africa, to arrive in 2015. For now she enjoys playing with her mini-golden doodle, Mr. Darcy.

She delights in her identity as a failure saved by Jesus' grace. She is also a singer/songwriter, hiker, home-maker, trip-taker, and scone-baker.

Becky has written several original Bible-studies and is passionate about speaking truth in love to young women. To book Becky for speaking engagements, contact via email: beckyrosty@gmail.com.