This is a Divine message I received on why we can’t give without receiving, and that whatever we give we first receive from God, Our Source.

Receiving and Giving are One Cord

HAVE YOU HEARD the saying that it is easier to give than receive? That saying described me. For some reason I loved giving but I had a hard time receiving. People would offer to give to me in return but I would decline. I would notice the hurt in their eyes, which made me feel guilty, and yet I felt guilty in accepting.

I wondered why it seems easier to give than receive? Pride? Ego? An “I don’t want to be a burden,” attitude? An “I can do it myself” attitude? I felt less somehow when a person would offer to help, like I was lacking something that someone else had to fill in because I was inadequate or flawed. As a result, I was unintentionally rude when I would turn down someone’s offer to help or to give me something. I didn’t mean to be rude. I meant not to be a burden or bother, or dependent. Or even more, that I didn’t need anyone’s help (can you hear the ego in that statement?) With my refusal I could see the disappointment in someone’s eyes or demeanor that showed I had rejected the generosity from their heart.

Jesus kept assuring me that giving and receiving are the same, but I couldn’t see it. To me, giving indicated strength, receiving revealed weakness.

One day, he flashed a vision into my mind that is best demonstrated by acting it out.

Exercise

To act out the vision, stand up to demonstrate this truth.

Imagine a thick nylon cord or rope threading through your solar plexus, front to back and it slides both ways. Place one hand on the imaginary cord coming out the front of your waist, and one hand on the same imaginary cord threading through you out the back of your waist. When you pull so that the rope goes outward from you, as in giving, notice that it also comes into you from the back, as in receiving. With the invisible cord in your hands, let the cable slide back and forth and you’ll see that no matter which way the cord glides, when you are giving, you are also receiving.

Jesus said:

“Everything you have is from the Divine. Everything. Including the love that fills you, love that is so freely given to you from your Creator. Everything you receive you first receive from the Divine. When others are giving to you, you are receiving what flowed through them from the Divine. So, whether giving or receiving, it is all from your Source, your Unlimited Supplier. 

“This image demonstrates that receiving and giving are the same. Your problem is that you allow ego and pride to get in your way, that when you decline a generous offer, you not only hurt the other person, you also hurt yourself. When you refuse to receive, you are blocking the natural flow. You are trying to separate the inseparable.

“Notice that when you slide the cord back and forth, that the giving comes from inside you at the same time that the receiving slips inside you, so you cannot possibly give without also giving to yourself.

“You can name the cord. If you name the cord ‘hate’, then when you give hate, that is what you receive. If you name the cord ‘love’, then when you give love, you receive love in return. Which means that if you want to receive love, then you must give love—in remembrance that you are giving from the love you’ve already received. You are created from love. You are love. Give what you truly are—love.”

Now the vision shifts:

“Imagine that the cord that runs through you also runs through a person in front of you and a person behind you, and the people on the other side of each of them. See the connection?” he said. “For someone to give there must be someone else to receive that gift, and of course, the reverse is true. For someone else to give, then another must receive.

“As with the cord, receiving isn’t always from the same person to whom you give. You will often receive back from unexpected sources.

“Also notice that when you give there is no lack because as you are giving, what you receive slips in continuously, allowing continual giving. That is the natural flow. The natural flow of giving and receiving is always going on —there is no life without it.”

Meaning: This message applies to all of creation—people, animals and the planet. Again, you might ‘receive’ from varying forms. Animals love in return, just like people, and sometimes better than people. Contributing in your own loving way fosters a more loving, healthy community, which benefits you and everyone.

Action:

Today, practice giving and receiving love with a smile and with gratitude.

“Everything you have is from the Divine. Everything. Including the love that fills you, love that is so freely given to you from your Creator. Everything you receive you first receive from the Divine. When others are giving to you, you are receiving what flowed through them from the Divine. So, whether giving or receiving, it is all from your Source, your Unlimited Supplier.” ~ Jesus, Divine Message from Jesus. p. 365. 2015. Cathey, Carolyne.