Much more than a “self-help” book — and far from the standard scriptural treatise on tithing — GIVING THANKS is all about personal empowerment. “Each of us has our own issues around giving and receiving that we need to heal,” is the author’s abiding theme. Her insightful guide to this healing process is both practical and inspirational, tackling fears about tithing and attachments to gifts we give. All the while offering a new perspective on the half-full/half-empty glass we call life. Ryan begins by providing readers with a brief history of tithing, and then moves on to dispel myths and misperceptions that have prevented people from embracing tithing in the past: “You do not have an obligation to tithe, you have an opportunity to tithe.” She then outlines how to give and receive without attachment, guilt or shame, and how to recognize the many forms abundance takes (only one of which is monetary) in one’s life. Her book also addresses a subject previously avoided in tithing books, but which has caused countless people to miss out on the benefits of tithing: how to tithe when money is tight and stepping out in faith feels more like stepping into quicksand. GIVING THANKS also explores how the fear of not having ‘enough’ has become an ingrained habit and demonstrates concrete strategies for breaking that habit. This book walks you through how to “give with gratitude, focus on what you truly desire, release your attachment to how it comes to you, and receive with gratitude.” Particularly helpful for anyone who likes to see how others have benefited from tithing, this book contains anecdotal accounts of real people’s tithing breakthroughs, as well as a list of more than 50 intentions used by others to expand their view of prosperity.
