We like to tell ourselves that everything is earned. That the possessions or reputation or status or success or whatever we have is because we deserve them based on our hard work or character or intelligence.
But that’s simply not true. Everything good we have can be traced back to someone else. (In the Christian view, that lineage of blessing eventually leads back to God himself).
True, a lot less is received by just sitting around, passively allowing life to happen. Even receiving gifts requires an active participation.
Earning leads only to competition, making sure that someone else loses so that we can win. Receiving leads to sharing and celebrating one another’s wins.
