The Second Half-Century Is All About Helping Others

By Kirsten Barnes

I’m optimistic about life in a surprising but welcoming way. I’ve passed the half-century mark and even though I have not accomplished all that I thought I would have 25 years ago; I’m not the person I was 25 years ago and it’s okay that the things I thought I wanted aren’t quite what I want now.

I’m unwed and childless, but I’m not alone and I’m not lonely. I’m fulfilled as a person. I’m steadfast in my relationship with God. I’m confident in my abilities. I’m secure in my relationships with family and friends. I have things to look forward to and great memories to reflect upon.

The only resolution I made this year was to declutter and save money, while simultaneously giving more to charity. Already, I have cleaned out my closets and drawers and donated items that I no longer use but could be used by others.

I’ve always been a giver. My grandmother, Moree Jones, was the embodiment of a cheerful giver. She taught me a lot about the meaning of family, sacrifice, love and giving.

She used to tell me when I was a little girl, “You can’t receive anything with a closed hand.”

Today, I understand that sometime people take things from your open hand and other times people put things into your open hand; but you have to be willing to be a benefit to someone else in order to receive God’s blessings. People today would call that paying it forward.

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[a] will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Corinthians 9:6-7.

People often only quote the last phrase of verse seven, but we need to read both versus together to get the complete understanding.

Five years ago, I started a federally recognized non-profit organization with a friend. What started out as an organization that conducted recreational and academic camps has morphed into an agency that focuses on community revitalization, food insecurity, affordable housing and homelessness because we see the need in the community is so great.

Recently, our organization Universal Youth Foundation has been helping a young couple with an infant to navigate life’s challenges, one of which is homelessness; and it amazes me how few people are willing to help those who have fallen upon hard times.

Often it seems that I am surrounded by people who call themselves Christians but who do not act charitably toward others.

And by no means am I implying that you need to tell people when you do acts of kindness.

For Matthew 6:2-4 clearly states: “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

I’m simply saying don’t scoff at people who are less fortunate; “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased,” Hebrews 13:16.

As Alabama Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison likes to say, “You can’t pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you’re barefoot.”

Therefore, I challenge each and every one who reads these words to help someone this week in secret or in public.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again,” Luke 6:38.

To get involved with Universal Youth Foundation, email info@universalyouth.org.