You may already be asking "Steve, what does a wood stove have to do with giving and getting?"

My answer is this... "Would you stand in front of a cold, empty wood stove and expect to get heat?"

No, of course not because you know that without giving it newspapers, kindling, a match, a few pieces of larger wood and finally a log, you would not get any heat. No fuel, no heat.

When I feel that I am not getting enough of something, I think of the wood stove. I know that I have to get into action, fueling my getting, like fueling my wood stove. I have to give what I want to get.

If I want love, I have to give it. If I want money, I have to give it. If I want to be understood, I have to give out understanding. If I feel like I am not being listened to, then it's listening that I have to give.

I have to fuel my getting with giving.

I have to have faith that I will receive, like the stove, once I fuel it, I will get heat.

I do have to tend it too. Pay attention and be sure that the fire did light. It's the same with my giving. I cannot give just a little and expect to get a lot. I have to fan the flame.

When I stand before a cold wood stove, instinctively I know, it's silly to ask it to give me heat before I give it the fuel, and yet with my own giving this is not the case. I know that I withhold from time to time.

Will I pay list price for something because I am in sales and I want others to pay list price to me or will I haggle someone for a better price and be happy when the exact same thing happens to me?

Will I help someone today because I might need help someday or will I be upset when no one helps me as I pass by the opportunity to help others?

Will I give money anonymously assured with faith or hold on tightly to it because of fear I will not have enough for myself?

Will I give love in the moment to all and everything, and leave everyone and everything better than I found them or will I think, "it's someone else's job" and feel at a loss when this is what I get back too?

Will I stand before my stove of giving and just think, "where's the heat or will I get into action fueling it?"

Is your stove fueled or are you feeling a little chilly?

Gratefully yours,
Steve