Women’s Fund Executive Director Zoe Lawhorn, let me write whatever I wanted to. Now, there’s an irresistible invitation for any writer! I called it, The Politics of Generosity: Reclaiming Our Misspent Vocabulary.

The Tyler Paper (God bless them) hosts a column called “Give Well.” Nonprofits share encouragement for all of us on how to make our donations count. I hope you will read the full article via the Tyler Paper. In case you’re in a hurry, here’s some highlights.

The Politics of Generosity

In the column, I discuss these three questions.

#1 Since when did it become necessary to give according to our political views? 

#2 When did political agendas start outranking pure generosity?

#3 How can folks give confidently, generously, with our community’s best interest in mind?

If we want to reclaim generosity, we better start reclaiming the words politicians and media hacks use to divide us. 

Real Definitions for Real Life

Together, Anna Krafve Pierce and I are reclaiming words like conservative, liberal, and moderate on our show, Fireside Talk Radio.

Did you know you can be liberal, conservative, AND moderate? Simultaneously. Without swaying in the political wind or lacking conviction.

“Anytime you take language out of a political arena or large bureaucratic arena and make it personal, then there’s more accountability,” explains Anna. “That’s a good thing. The word becomes more useful again, more nuanced.”

• Liberal—Lifelong learning about the generosity of sharing oneself
• Conservative—Lifelong learning about how to steward resources wisely to have something wonderful to share
• Moderate—Lifelong learning to judiciously take into account others’ perspectives without compromising personal conviction.

Read the full article in the Tyler Paper.

Reason to Give through Women’s Fund

I like accountability that’s built into knowing the organizations we give to because we’re neighbors sharing with neighbors. In the column, I mention some of our family favorites, like Bethesda, PATH, Literacy Council, Mercy Ships, and our own churches. Personally, I really love the idea of exporting good East Texas common sense to places all over the world.

I also listed the following 7 reason I love giving together with other women through Women’s Fund:

1) Women’s Fund brings together women from diverse walks of life to make remarkable things happen for children and women in East Texas. 

2) It exposes me to ministries and efforts I might not know about otherwise.

3) It provides tons of accountability as volunteers, donors, and staff from all the recipient organizations come together.

4) I’ve benefitted from mentoring along the way from professional women and other philanthropist of all varieties as we serve on committees.

5) Nobody pressures you to add one thing to your schedule. No guilt trips, only joy.

6) I’m confident in the oversight and influence of the good folks at East Texas Communities Foundation, who cheered for Women’s Fund from the beginning.

7) Best of all, Women’s Fund allows me to multiply my small annual gift. Yep, I’ve given away over a million dollars! Sure, it’s me and a few hundred other women together over several years to many outreaches. But, hey, I still get a thrill about my small gift included in the pool of those accumulated, collaborative gifts.

Find the rest of The Politics of Generosity: Reclaiming Our Nation’s Misspent Vocabulary in the Tyler Paper.

No Politics, Just More Love

Finally, know that without YOU, all this writing would have no purpose. I hope there’s something here today you can joyfully share.

For that reason, I thank God for YOU every day. I keep asking Him to bless YOU as you read and as you share your good thoughts with those you love. Or, heck, with complete strangers, too. As we all share with anybody He brings into our path, may God keep blessing us with wisdom and insight!

🙂

cathy

May we pray together?

Dear Good Father, You give to us even when we don’t deserve it. When could we ever deserve Your generosity anyway? The Bible tells us You loved us when we were yet sinners. That’s pretty much all the time, isn’t it dear Lord? How can You be so good to us that You provide for our sin with boundless sacrificial generosity? Your own Son paid the price for our sin. Help us understand His generosity to each one of us. Help us accept the free gift He offers. Today, give us the wisdom and insight we need to honor You and tell others about Your generosity. Bless us now because that is Your heart’s desire, dear good Father. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

YOUR Thoughts About Politics and Generosity?

How have the politics of generosity affected your giving? Which words in our culture do you feel have been highjacked? What truth about God do you wish made more sense to you in your daily life?

Fun News: Book Reviews

Next week, I’ll share some of the wonderful reviews we’re getting about Marriage Conversations! In January, bloggers across the country reviewed our book. Just in time for Valentine’s Day. Truly, I was biting my fingernails. But it’s such GREAT news, I can’t wait to share the reviews with YOU!

In case you want to comment about our book on any of the sites, here’s a list of all the websites who chose to review Marriage Conversations.

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 11

Texas Book-aholic, January 12

Inklings and notions, January 13

For Him and My Family, January 14

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 15

deb’s Book Review, January 16

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 17

The Author Reads, January 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 19 (Spotlight)

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, January 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 21

A Baker’s Perspective, January 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, January 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 23

Simple Harvest Reads, January 24 (Author Interview)

Cathy Primer Krafve is host of Fireside Talk Radio and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations and Marriage Conversation: From Coexisting to Cherished. Your stories, ideas, and questions are welcome at CathyKrafve.com.

❤️Truth with a Texas Twang! ❤️