Giving

I was pondering, sitting out here while I’m on vacation, on all the blessings I’ve received in my life. A beautiful wife of thirty-three years, three wonderful, independent children; more than most men can dream of. I remember back at the time, when I started my business in March of 2000. I had been given $250,000 by an investor; I was cruising along without much of an idea of what I was doing when I ran out of money, despite business being good. I began struggling to pay for inventory, I was making payroll but it began to get stressful. It was at this point when I met a man who ran a truss plant, he told me that I wouldn’t be able to make any money by myself--I needed salesmen. Without money, how could I afford any?

We had been bouncing around churches at the time when my wife was invited to visit this small church in Stafford, called Ferry Farm. We’d been going there for a few months, and there I was sitting in the pews just stressing myself to death. One of the members got up and began to share his testimony with the audience. He spoke of giving and tithing to the point it had this tremendous impact on me, inspiring me. That evening when we went home I said to my wife, we need to start giving to God. She says to me, “well, we don’t have the money.”

I said, “I know, but if we give, I believe God will give back to us.”

It wasn’t tithing, at that point we began giving what we believed we could spare beyond what it would take to keep the business and ourselves afloat. It wasn’t too long after when we had a meeting with BB&T, our bank at the time. I had great financials, a business plan, so I went in and met with them—they said they’d get back to me in a few days. Their eventual response—“Well Larry, we love your business, it’s doing well, but we can’t loan you any money because your cash flow is so poor.”

Well, obviously, that’s why I am here. If I didn’t need any money then why would I come here? I called my partner and he just laughed, saying, “They’ll never give you the money when you need it, only when you don’t need it.”  I began to think to myself, wondering what on earth I was going to do. So I did what I did most days, went to the truss plant. I had literally just pulled in when this car pulls in behind me, out pops a man in a nice suit. I was perplexed; I had no idea who it could have been. It was a local banker, and he informs me that his bank has just popped up. He’s looking to find business in need of loans and support. As a matter of fact, I did. I had my financials in hand, ready to go meet with some other banks. We’re touring through the plant, really hitting it off, making that connection. I showed him my business plan, introduced to him to the business and he says he’ll get back to me in a few days. Two days later he calls and offers me a loan for $80,000. I couldn’t believe it. I called my partner; he told me that building relationships with the smaller banks was key. What is so crucial is building those relationships where you can look a man or woman in they eye and they’ll know you’re good for your word, they can trust you to pay them back with every effort you can muster. I must have sucked $75,000 that first day to get current on my business. I was amazed, I gave a little bit of money and God brought this man to my place and provided for me. From that point forward, I have given unconditionally to my church, to charity, to anyone I could bless because I was convicted. For me, it truly was the case, learning to be a cheerful and loving giver. God would always return, because I learned to give with an open heart. I have maintained this stance since that day.

Here’s the thing: it’s not always about money. God wants more than just your money, and the world needs more than just your money. Giving of yourself doesn’t have to mean emptying your wallet. Sometimes all you need to give is a kind word, encouragement, a piece of advice, or just a bit of love. Giving is about sharing in life’s joys with others; remembering God in the small things and seeing Him in everyone you meet. A beautiful smile and a great laugh can change someone’s whole day—sometimes that is all they need. If there’s one thing I can stress to you, that it’s not about the monetary, it’s about your time and your spirit towards other people’s conditions, giving and helping in a positive way.