We know the good we’re capable of, we know we have it in us to act as Jesus would, to respond with thanks and generosity to all we have… Yet how do we square that desire to be open-hearted and open-handed with the need to tighten our belts knowing that January’s post includes the credit cards bills and bank statements showing our Christmas spending?
15 years ago, the third Monday of January was dubbed ‘the most depressing day of the year’. Ever since, people across the globe (or at least the internet) became aware of the phrase ‘Blue Monday’.
A New Year brings new excitement, expectation and opportunity; it can also be a pretty difficult time.
Stewardship share with A Rocha International and their many many friends around the world the deep sadness and loss of losing such fine leaders and pioneers in the Christian conservation world.
No less a person than William Wordsworth once said that poetry is emotion recollected in tranquillity. This has certainly been the experience of Paul Bebbington, part time civil servant and poet. Twelve years ago, his friend Mark Darvell invited him to be his travel companion on a church trip to Romania. Neither traveller had any inkling of the changes that would come as a result of their journey.
With four children, three of whom are at secondary and our youngest in her final year of primary, I’m aware that I’ve made a fair few parenting mistakes over the years. My wife, thankfully, is the level-headed, wise, sensible one in our family. I get to bring the fun, but looking back there’s a clear and unifying theme that runs through many of my greatest Dad-fails, as my enthusiasm overpowers my common sense.
As articles go, it was never going to be the most popular piece on the New York Times site that day.
But the tale of a primary school kid’s victory at a chess tournament had something special about it.
Support comes in many forms. Armed with a basket of rainbow-coloured wool and apparently bionic knitting needles, this is the story of a retired granny in West Yorkshire who’s touching the lives of young girls and their babies thousands of miles away in Kenya.
In Giving Without Guilt #1, I suggested 4 practical steps for working out how to choose where to give so that you can say ‘no’ without guilt – knowing you have already said ‘yes’ to your God-given giving priorities.
But doesn’t Jesus tell us to, 'Give to everyone who asks of you'? (Luke 6:30) I have heard of folk who operate on the principle of giving to anyone who asks - for anything.
For most of us, Dolly Parton had it right with her classic song about being a slave to the alarm clock, Nine to Five. As the songstress says: “Working nine to five, what a way to earn a living, barely getting by, it’s all taking and no giving.” By the time most people hit retirement age, they’re more than ready to give up the early mornings, rushed breakfasts and commutes to work in favour of a quieter life, pruning the roses, ambling round garden centres and looking after grandchildren.
As I write this, we are full into the swing of British summertime, that heady mixture of glorious sunshine and torrential downpours. Abundance is everywhere. Flowers are in bloom, birds are in song and lush, vibrant greenery forms the backdrop to our days.
blogs by the Stewardship team and selected guest writers.
Stewardship is the operating name of Stewardship Services (UKET) Limited. Established in 1906.
Registered charity no. 234714, and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 90305.
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