Stewardship and Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness are a good start on your path to holiness. But, Stewardship is next level! Why? Because Stewardship is a lifestyle based on gratitude and generosity. Stewardship is intentional and rooted in love, not random with no strings attached. The whole point is strengthening our relationship with God and each other.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Prayer

  • Don’t have time for daily prayer? Say a quick prayer for people that annoy you. You’ll be praying more than you imagined and your attitude towards them will change.
  • Don’t have time to read the Bible? There’s an app for that. Start with daily scripture readings. Remember, scripture is one of the ways God talks to us.
  • Don’t have time to pray the Rosary? Start with three Holy Mary’s each day. You’ll be looking for your Rosary in no time.
  • Is everything falling into place for you, no major issues? Attend Mass on a day other than Sunday and receive the Holy Eucharist. Thank God for all He has given you. Remember, the word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving”.
  • Have you been hurt by what someone said recently? Go to Confession – receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Then, go and forgive the person that hurt you. We can’t give what we don’t have.
  • Are you easily angered? Make a list of the top five things you are grateful to God for. When you feel your temperature rising offer the gratitude list as a prayer to God. It is impossible to be angry and joyful at the same time.

Participation

  • Are you lonely, bored or unsatisfied? Give away what you what to receive. If you want love, mercy, forgiveness, fellowship – give it away and it will come back to you many times over.
  • Are you overbooked, too busy, feel out of control? Then stop and rest. Even God took a day off. Has “being busy” become a “god” in your life that keeps you from things that are really important?
  • When someone offers to help you with something, gladly accept it. You may not need the help but it may help the other person. You may be the answer to their prayer.
  • Can’t figure out what you would like to get involved with at your parish? Instead, ask God what He would like you to do. If we want God’s help, we have to invite Him into our life.
  • Do you enjoy working in parish ministry or performing other charitable works? If so, don’t keep it to yourself. Share your joyful stories with others and invite them to join you. Your story may open the door for someone to meet Jesus.
  • Do you spend a lot of time on social media, live streaming or cable tv? Then do a fast from media. Think “garbage in, garbage out”. Use the extra time doing charitable works in your parish or your community.

Generosity

  • Do you think “I work hard, I earn my money on my own, God had nothing to do with it?” If so, remember who created you. Who gave you the talent and skill needed to get a job to provide for your family? God did. If you think about it, all of “our” money is His.
  • God and money run neck and neck as the top priority for many people. Where does God fall on your list? If not number one, you need to put the other “gods” behind God. The first commandment is the first commandment for a reason.
  • Have you been employed for years, received an annual raise, given a promotion or seen your family income increase over the years? Then why do you still only give $20 a week in the Sunday offertory? Our giving should be proportional - when given more, we are called to give more.
  • Don’t have enough money to give to your parish or other charity? Make a budget. You’ll be surprised how much you spend eating out all the time. Most of us have more than we need and have plenty to share.
  • Do you leave a bigger tip when going out to eat on Saturday night than what you put in the offertory basket on Sunday morning? We are called to give from our “first fruits” – our first and best, not our “leftovers”. Try putting charitable giving at the top of your expenses on your household budget.

Do you have a good job, make good money, have all the toys you need but still feel empty? Give more money away. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said you measure your generosity by what you have left, not by what you give.