Church signs, life and generosity

You all may recall my blog about little church signs and such a few months ago, the past few days I've been thinking about one I saw years ago. It said...A Place to Belong, Believe, Become...Family.
I love church signs and this one really got me thinking about how blessed I have been my entire life. The year I was born, there was much chaos in my family. Eh, maybe chaos isn't quite right but there were 3 teens and my parents were splitting up. I came along when things were already hard on the family but I have never felt I didn't belong.  Sure as a feisty teen I am sure I said I didn't belong there and such but in my heart I knew I did.
My family has always gave most everyone a sense of belonging. Ask any of my friends from childhood to adulthood who knows them and I guarantee you will be told they are one of the bunch. A sense of belonging is so important and throughout my life I have been in places where I was sure I didn't belong. Some places were classes, jobs even volunteer groups...but most places I go I carry a sense of belonging. I know it comes from my upbringing...from belonging to my family, my church family and group of friends. I have come to realize not all have this security growing up and I am thankful to have had this.
Believing...faith comes to mind. I was given a huge dose of this growing up as well. My life has had many trials and faith has pulled me through everyone of them. Believing that God would give me the way out, the obvious answer, the right path has always kept me going through the craziest stuff. Belief came from watching those around me. Those who preservered through their hardships and somehow made life look easy even when it wasn't. I also had those who believed in all my wild dreams not matter how far fetched they seemed. I have actually achieved many of those thanks to those who stood behind me encouraging me to follow through. I am very grateful for those who helped me get through school, who have encouraged my passion for arts and simply believed I could do something that I thought I couldn't.
Becoming...I am still a piece of clay in God's hands. He still has much work but it's coming along. We all should have these things...a place to belong, to be believed in and to become who we really are. We are shaped by our lives, day in and day out. We make choices that shape us as we grow and life goes on around us.
One thing I recently decided within myself was to be more generous. Yes, that right. Generous. You don't need to be a millionaire to do such. It's actually rather easy and pays big!
Every week or 2, I do a nice thing for someone, even for folks that I am not sure will take kindly to me...sometimes they know I did it, sometimes they don't and I have found a string of good luck in this new happy routine. :) Our latest blessings are Hal's job, my cool iPod and a check from an anonymous gift giver. Well, I am glad someone else has gotten into the generous routine as well and I bet they too, are reaping in the rewards. It's such a nice feeling to do good for others esp. when you aren't looking for anything in return. Funny thing is what goes around does come around and I am glad that it's kindness that I've been dishing out!