Try Giving Yourself Away

It was in the 1940’s when David Dunn wrote an article for Forbes Magazine called “Try Giving Yourself Away.”  In 1947 (my birth year) it was expanded and published as a book.  

As a young pastor in my twenties I heard an older pastor express in a message how this book, “Try Giving Yourself Away” had influenced his life.  After hearing him say that I began to look for the book and to my dismay found it was out of print. I could not find it anywhere. One day in one of my messages I mentioned the book and how I could not find it. A few days later as I arrived at my office, I was surprised to find an old beat up copy of this book sitting squarely on my desk. I could hardly believe it as my secretary told me she had found this copy at a yard sale the previous Saturday purchasing it just for a few pennies.

 “Try Giving Yourself Away” carries with it many spiritual principles. I read it immediately, consuming the wonderful suggestions that have since transformed my daily life. I wanted all my congregation and friends to have a copy, so we contacted the publishers and after a long journey of letters and calls they finally reprinted it with the cover that you see attached to this article.

 What brought this book to mind again was a statement I recently read by Bob Goff, “When Jesus told us to love people, He wanted us to give ourselves away simply because other people are worth it. Jesus befriended people because He valued them, not because He wanted something from them.”

 Dunn was a businessman who decided to take up the "hobby" of helping others and writes a classic book of service, attention, gratitude and the joy of giving yourself away. He found that it enriched his life immeasurably. Below are some of his strategies and suggestions (compiled by Gregg Krech)

·        Pass on helpful ideas to others. For example, if you think of something that might benefit a local business, let them know.

·        Thank wait staff for good service, chefs for delicious meals, mail carriers for delivering your letters, and so on.

·        Rather than give money, donate your time and effort to others.

·        Obey your giving impulses and act quickly when the situation presents itself.

·        Start giving yourself away as early in the day as possible.

·        You don’t need a lot of extra time – even a few minutes a day makes such a difference.

·        Put yourself in the shoes of every person you encounter.

·        Smile often.

·        Send letters and postcards daily. (Today that would translate into texts and emails).

·        Leave a trail of appreciation wherever you go on a given day.

·        Be specific when you thank and compliment others.

·        Cultivate the habit of noticing things and becoming more alert to the world around you.

·        Spread your giving among everyone you encounter. Create an ever-widening giving circle.

Some of his most famous quotes are.......

All human beings’ hunger for appreciation.

If we think of our heart, rather than our purse, as the reservoir of our giving, we shall find it full all the time!

If you start to give of yourself, be it ever so simple a fashion, the world will observe your spirit and show you many needs that you can supply. There are a hundred ways of giving away little margins of time you will never miss, which could be riches to someone.

When you give impulsively, something happens inside of you that makes you glow, sometimes for hours.

For me, I have been a constant recipient from others who have given their lives away to benefit me.  I am very grateful to them as well as to God who impressed or inspired their hearts to do so. I too, have a desire to give my life away and am reminded of it every morning as I am shaving with a penny, placed next to my bathroom sink.

You Matter to Me and You Matter to God!

Dunn says, “Go out into the world and give yourself away. The rewards are sure to be appreciated by others as well as yourself.