Longevity Secrets from the Life of Bill Pritchett
Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! Your measurement of generosity becomes the measurement of your return. Luke 7:38 TPT
Dad grew up during the Great Depression. With the hard times that he went through he responded differently than many of his contemporaries. He spoke of the blessings of simple food and hard work. He learned to be content with a simple life. This frugal lifestyle continued throughout his entire life. He enjoyed saving money! He felt rich when he ate corn bread and pinto beans just like the ones his Mom made.
I’m not telling you this because I’m in need, for I have learned to be satisfied in any circumstance. I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty. Philippians 4:11-13 TPT
Like Paul, Dad had learned to be satisfied in every situation and was happy when he didn’t have much. It was harder for him to learn to enjoy abundance. He spoke of that when he traveled to Israel with Mom and when I took him on an Alaskan cruise at age 97. In those situations, he found people to whom he could minister and gained deeper insight into God’s Word.
When extra income came in, he was looking for a need that the Lord was guiding him to support. He carried a $20 dollar bill with him at all times. He was always looking for the person who might need it. There were many testimonies as we gathered for three life celebrations where people approached me to tell me how much a specific $20 dollar bill had meant at just the right time. He never wanted others to know what he had done.
Dad’s cousin, Dean Truett, a fellow missionary in Central America said the following at his memorial service: “Bill would give you the shirt off his back but hitch a ride with anyone who was going the same direction as he needed to go. My cousin was the most generous tightwad you would ever meet.”
Longevity Secret #7:
Enjoy every stage of your life and always be ready to give generously. Give more than money – give of yourself and see the abundant return.
This post is part of the Write 31 Days 2019 challenge. Click here to find more longevity secrets.
Author, speaker, corporate trainer, ordained minister and Hope Catalyst, Karen Sebastian enjoys sharing her rich life experiences with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world. Her books will inspire you to embrace hope no matter what you are going through. As a caregiver and widow she took brave steps forward to fulfill God’s calling on her life. She has now remarried and enjoys her new hubby and spending time with their children and grandchildren. To increase hope and improve relationships with yourself and those that you love, check out her Facebook page – The Power of Hope.
