I’ve found that most people fall in one of two categories.

Many give freely, but don’t receive freely.

Many take freely, but don’t give freely.

Maturity is found in being open to both. Want to bless someone? Just wash their feet.

Want to be blessed? Then have your feet washed. It’s easier for me to wash feet than to have my feet washed. I tend to be more of a giver.

GIVING IS NORMALLY SAFER, SINCE IT TAKES LESS RISK—

AND THUS, LESS INTIMACY—THAN RECEIVING.

Sometimes my gifts are rejected by others (who thus reject me), but most gifts are at least taken, whether or not they’re ever used or appreciated. But receiving—that’s a bigger hazard for me. It means I have to confess or admit I’m needy. That’s right; it signifies that I’m lacking in something, needing someone else to provide for me.

Receiving also truly calls for a deeper level of intimacy than giving. That was true for Peter, when Jesus, on His knees, washed Peter’s feet. Like Peter, I too must confess my incompleteness and unworthiness. Watching this display of serving on the part of Jesus, Peter and the other disciples received a lesson and a blessing which they then went forth and shared with the world. For a gift to go forth and multiply, there must be a receiver. The deepest intimacy comes when you receive the gift of life from Jesus Christ. We then become both receiver and giver. It takes both to make a gift a gift.