Making the Time to Give (with Anna Cummings)

 We are in the midst of "Stewardship Season" at Canterbury.  As we invite our members and friends to prayerfully consider making a financial commitment to support God's work at Canterbury, we are also inviting our members to share their personal experiences of gratitude, generosity, and stewardship. In this week's blogpost Anna Cummings, a stay at home mom and  member of Canterbury, writes about making the time to give.

by Anna Cummings

I’m a stay at home mom.  I don’t have a job outside of the home, like many parents do.  I don’t bring home any form of an income, and that affects how I am able to be a “good” steward at church in regards to money.  As a stay home parent I am home more than most other adults.  I should find it easy to have time to give.  Most days I start the morning off fixing breakfasts for the kids and a sack lunch for Jacob, my third grader.  Then I make sure the kids get dressed and brush their teeth.  After I send Jacob off to school, I do some quick chores around the house, and work with Lorelei, my four year old, on learning her preschool skills.  After that I sit around and relax with the kids, read several novels, and binge watch Netflix.  Ok so maybe that last sentence is a bit of a stretch and more wishful thinking.  Truthfully I don’t know quite what I do with my days.  The morning is usually a flurry of activity and somehow time spins into a vortex of chaos and gets used up in the afternoon.  In theory I know I must have time.  Time to spend how I wish, time to get projects done, or to spend in deep quality with the kids.  Maybe somewhere in that vortex of time I could get the things done that are sitting on that mental list that we all have.  That mental list of things that need to be accomplished soon or else our brain may explode from an odd mix of guilt, anxiety, and fear.  Or perhaps that is just my mind?

So yes, I also struggle with good stewardship of my time.  Yet somehow, in the midst of all this chaos of toys and naptimes, of children’s tears and laughter, I can make time.  Make time, is the important key to this.  As much as I struggle with finding time, because I just can’t seem to find the time, I can always MAKE time.  I can create some space after dinner and before bath time, between breakfast and packing a lunch, in between this and that, to do what needs to get done.  In that space of time that I have created I can sometimes only accomplish a tiny amount.  But it doesn’t really matter how much that I have accomplished, sometimes it only matters that I have accomplished, period.  I don’t need to have a huge accomplishment to feel like I have succeeded, small steps are fine with me.  I have checked a piece off of the mental to-do list before it has exploded.  

I find joy in small steps that I am able to accomplish, especially when it is something for someone else.  I have been able to do so much lately (all in small steps) for the church’s online presence.  I find it gratifying.  Although I may struggle with finding the money, and finding the time is sometimes impossible, it is gratifying to make the time whenever I can.  Make the time to accomplish those small little jobs that I can do in five minutes from home, but makes a difference for St. Thomas.  It allows me something I can give, even if it is just myself, for five minutes, and that makes all the difference.  

Helping on the webpage, or somewhere else for church isn’t my job, and it shouldn’t feel like one.  Devoting your time to church, when you can, and if you can, should feel freeing and joyful.  Not always during, some chores just are not joyful, but in that sense of accomplishment that you have given a small piece of your life for something larger than yourself. I recently read a blog post online, the author stated “But here is the thing that I believe: we need to do the work we were meant to do in order to be who we were meant to be. And what’s more, I believe that honours God.” (http://sarahbessey.com/when-you-feel-a-bit-selfish-for-pursuing-your-calling/).  

 To work and to give in a way that we find self-fulfillment in what we have done. Sometimes we may be able to give of our time, of our money, and of our talent.  Sometimes it feels like a struggle to give in anyway at all.  It is worth the space on all of our mental to-do list to have a space for church or others.  To give in some way that is beyond ourselves.  Looking for a way to give beyond yourself?  There are plenty of ways available.  Sign-up to feed the hungry at St. Martin’s, check to see if there is someone who is struggling with a health or other problem and may need some help, sign up to greet newcomers at church, or feed some hungry college students at campus ministry by signing up to make a meal. Lots of opportunities.  Reach out to give some of yourself, whether it is your time, your money, or your talent.  If you are ready to help then in closing let me leave this link that gives some great advice on ways to help someone who is struggling with health or other issues.   The article suggests paying attention to how you help and change saying “God will never give you more than you can handle” to “Let me come over and help you do some laundry.”  ( http://communicatingacrossboundariesblog.com/2015/09/28/stupid-phrases-for-people-in-crisis/)  So even if you can’t find the time to give, it can be worth it to MAKE the time to give.  Good stewardship can come in many different forms. 

Do you have a story or experience about generosity, giving, or stewardship to share?  Email your story and a photo to sylvia.miller.mutia@gmail.com!