You do not give with thought of return, and yet, when you give and give, and the energy you give is not returned, and it takes effort to continue to give, it is no longer giving. Give in joy so long as you can give in joy. Some of My children overextend themselves in giving, not from sense of God, but from some kind of atonement of their own making. They have the idea that giving must come personally from them at all expense, and they erode their own hearts away.

Come from the premise that you have nothing to atone for. Come from the premise that you started out equal with everyone else. This is so. All were born innocent. Whatever your past, from this lifetime or another, this is your life now. You came to this life from an innocent desire to serve the universe. You are to nourish it. It is not meant that you lay yourself down for others to walk on so that they may cross the stream and leave you behind. You are to cross the stream as well. In order to give sustenance, you must sustain yourself.

There is no pound of flesh you are obliged to give.

There is only love you are to give. This love you give is not from duty. Love that is dutiful is not love, and it does not serve. Resentment is not love. It is resentment. Over-giving is not giving. It is taking from yourself. It is poor marksmanship.

You are My child, and I honor you. Now you must honor yourself, you who are a child of God. Respect yourself first so that others may learn self-respect. You teach what you are. Pay attention to your worthiness.

Never were you meant to sacrifice. When you believe in sacrifice, you believe in lack. When you believe in sacrifice, you believe in overspending. Be not a miser nor a spendthrift. Sacred does not mean sacrifice. Sacrifice is not holy. Sacrifice may be self-centeredness.

If you give your life for another, let it not be sacrifice. Being a martyr is not holy. Be a loving child of God instead. Whatever you do, do in joy, or do not do it. Joy is not to be mustered. Joy is a well that must spring up of its own accord. Mandated joy is not joy. Joy is beyond the circumferences of the world.

Living your life in joy is holy. Admire joy.

When someone gives too much, how does that make you feel? You didn’t ask them to, and you wish they wouldn’t.

Yes, joy is the only way to go. It is the only path to Me. I am utmost Joy, and joy seeks joy. Be joyful. If you do not feel joy right now, imagine joy. Imagine an inexorable fountain of joy within yourself that bubbles up in order to express Me. If you owe anything, you owe joy. In order to give joy, you must be in joy yourself. In order to scatter rose petals, you must have some in your apron.

Joy brings joy.

Aspire to be a giver of joy. To be a giver of joy, you must first be a finder of it. Be open to joy. Let go of demands you make on yourself, and start enjoying. Make joy. Do not make hardship. I would have you smile.

Smile on yourselves, beloveds. Start over. Bless and be blessed in joy. Turn over a new leaf of joy.