“Loving generosity is not a have-to, but a get-to.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 8, 2026
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
I affectionately call her my generosity whisperer because her generous way of life shaped me as a young, impressionable boy, drawn to a woman overflowing with genuine love. My maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Anderson Goss, lived a generous life. She was neither wealthy nor poor. Her lifestyle reminds me of the prayer in Proverbs 30:7-9, TLB: “O God, I beg two favors from you before I die: First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs! For if I grow rich, I may become content without God. And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” I don’t remember a time when she wasn’t generous. A few years ago, I was honored to officiate her funeral. How do you describe in twenty minutes a 92-year life that prayerfully and intentionally blessed others? In her honor this Mother’s Day, I would like to share a few highlights of the person who modeled for me a journey of generosity by pointing people to Jesus and giving what she had to help others.
Elizabeth Anderson was the oldest of six children (four brothers and one sister). The Anderson family lived out in the country until my grandmother was about ten years old, at which point they moved to town, where her dad bought the General Store. In her words, she grew up a city girl! All the children showed an interest in business, including my grandmother, who, as an adult, worked as a financial manager for a thriving regional hardware supply company. During my eulogy, I recalled her opening her home to friends and family, with a table full of Southern cuisine: homemade buttermilk biscuits, fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, and pecan pie, plus as much sweet tea as you could guzzle. I felt a special bond with my grandmother; she knew me, understood me, and loved me generously despite my quirks. She was unhurried when we were together, always giving me her full attention. Generosity was not a have-to for my grandmother but a get-to—an overflow of her love for the Lord.
Her business acumen reminds me of the Proverbs 31 woman who cared for her family while working a demanding job. Her entrepreneurship included a rental home she owned in a small town 50 miles away, where her brother Thomas lived. When I was twelve, our family experienced a second divorce. My mother, with three boys in tow, struggled to buy us food and clothing, though she worked two jobs, and I hustled mowing lawns and washing trucks. Grandmother offered to let us stay in her rental home at no cost. What a gift to have a roof over our heads without fear of eviction. I lived in this modest house through middle and high school. I walked to school and to town to run errands. Grandmother’s generosity gave us peace of mind and physical safety and security.
However, the best gift Grandmother gave our family was her generous prayers. Many times in our conversations, she would remind me to pray and trust the Lord. I did pray, but as someone seeking the Lord, not someone who knew the Lord. Grandmother’s generous prayers for my soul’s salvation were answered in the spring of my freshman year in college. By God’s grace, I placed my total trust and faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Grandmother encouraged me to read and study the Bible so my faith would be grounded in God’s Word. She gave me my grandfather’s Bible with an inscription on the first page, “To my grandson Boyd, a beloved son in whom the Lord is well pleased.” After graduating from college, I attended seminary (theological graduate school), where she ensured my shoes looked nice (she liked buying me shoes). Her logic for having new-looking shoes was, “Son, since you bring with you the good news of Jesus Christ, it’s important you wear good-looking shoes!”
Grandmother was generous to the very end of her life, when she gave me the gift of officiating her funeral and asked me to carry on her legacy of generous living. At her bedside, 24 hours before she went to be with Jesus, she asked me to lean in close to her lips as she whispered her last words, “I’m giving you the spiritual mantle for our family; give away your life to love others for the Lord.” Maybe you have a mother, a grandmother, or even a great-grandmother who planted the seeds of true generosity in your heart long ago. Maybe this is your first Mother’s Day without them, or maybe they are seated right next to you at the table. This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate all of the ways these generous women love and bless us with their wisdom, their encouragement, and love. I love you, grandmother, and my shoes are looking good!
Adapted from the Introduction of Boyd’s most recent book, The Power of Generosity, by Broadstreet Publishing.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Prayer
Father, make me a generous person, not from obligation but from overflow. Teach me to give freely, serve joyfully, and trust that you replenish every life poured out for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
Identify one person this week who needs refreshing encouragement, practical help, or simply your time and attention. Give it without expectation of return.
Related Reading
Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 10:42; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Worship Resource
Vintage Worship: Generous Giver
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