RAOK - are they hard for you to receive?

[homesteadmamma]

I'm not talking gifts that are given from the ladies here to help each other or small acts of kindness.

What I'm talking about is a large monetary gift, given to you from a stranger at church or a friend who particularly knows if your having financial difficulties.

Up until last Dec. they were. I love giving, it was very hard to receive. Now it isn't, because I had to learn that in their giving they were being blessed. It's a hard thing to do when you've never had to accept help and suddenly you find yourself in that situation.

Does anyone else feel that way?

[Jeanna]

We have only received one, but no I did not feel bad about receiving it. At that time we really needed help and the church gave us some money to cover some bills. I make sure that we now give all that we can afford if there is an offering taken up for anyone else. I know the blessing it is to receive it and really think that is what the churchs work is, to help people in need.

[canadian gardener]

yes, I feel weird like I'm supposed to be the giver. It's an odd feeling being the receiver. I don't quite know what to do. It isn't part of my life script you might say.

I'm just beginning to come to terms with the possibility that some of my little habits and ways (including this one, I give but find it hard to receive--INCLUDING EMOTIONALLY!) may be part and parcel of growing up in an alcoholic environment.

It feels safer to be the giver somehow. Scary to be the receiver.

[guest32]

I'm not good at receiving gifts of any kind. The sweetest RAOK ever was from my dh...before we were married, or even dating. We were just good freinds, and I was a single parent. He offered to change the oil in my car, so he picked it up from me from work. When I went out that night to go home, he had had all new tires put on it for me! It was the middle of winter and I was broke....and I traveled for my job. He said he noticed how bad the tires were and worried that they wouldn't get me through the winter. I bawled and bawled because I didn't know how or when I could pay him back. He finally got through to me that it was a *gift*, simply because it was something he could do for me that I needed at the time. Yup...he's a keeper. And still has the kindest heart of any person I know.

[ecgsmama]

It's a long story, but a few years ago I was humbled beyond imagination when I received a food box. I was crying, my mother was crying on the phone with me, my husband was humbled... My husband was laid off at the time and we had a brand new baby, but in no way were we starving.

But God's timing is perfect, just the night before I was reading a reflection on the season of Advent and they made this point.....
that for someone to be able to give, someone had to receive.

So I humbly accepted the RAOk and gave thanks to my Lord for the blessing of food, the thoughtfulness of my co-workers, and the understanding that receiving is a wonderful act.

I love to be able to give and it would be selfish if I kept that good feeling of giving all to myself, so I've learned to also be a receiver so others can have that good feeling.

P.S. We weren't starving, b/c frugalness seems to be second nature to me

[Michele Annette]

I have never received a monetary gift from a friend or stranger. But I can tell you it would be very difficult for me to accept such a gift. I have trouble with monetary gifts from my parents (still). They gave us some Christmas money and even though we do "need" it, I initally have a hard time accepting it. I do though because it would hurt my parents if we didn't accept it.

[AmyBoz]

I've never been on the recieving end of a large RAOK like that, however, I think it would be difficult for me to receive. I would certainly accept it if I needed it and would be quite humbled and appreciative.