Our Family Legacy

The Science of Giving: science or wisdom?

By Norma Avila Rivera

We are numerous descendants of God-fearing, strong and hardworking people who at the beginning of the 20th century found the key to multiplying their assets. We were taught to love, respect, help and value everyone, just as we loved our parents and family. We learned that everyone is deserving of unconditional kindness. 

Our ancestors were not born into comfort, but they figured out how to produce and expand resources. Following the Bible statute of giving 10 percent of earnings, they donated to support missions and people in need, and were able to sustain the family and save for elderly and rainy days. 

I witnessed during my childhood and adolescence people come to my grandparent's home in need of a meal, and my grandparents were immensely satisfied and felt blessed to have the ability to help. I saw how my grandparents, parents and siblings helped young people attend college to earn a higher education degree. In addition to contributing to the Church, they helped young people in Puerto Rico and abroad in completing Christian theology seminary studies to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ across the globe, and also instilling a work ethic to enable securing basic needs, accessing education and forging a better quality of life for all. 

Now, in our generation I see these lessons in practice. I see our descendants helping churches, communities, and transporting the sick to get medical care. We not only give financial support but we also give our time, and we promote the rise of a productive and responsible new generation dedicated to their work and to supporting people in need.

I opened by stating that our ancestors found the key of giving in the Bible scriptures, and there they also found that helping the needy has its rewards - the more you give the more you get, and then you can give some more. In time, their financial assets multiplied, their descendants became educated entrepreneurs and career professionals, and helped others in the way they were taught. In the process, they also learned that while there is immense joy in giving, there is even more joy in teaching.