My mother, Josie, just reached her 90th birthday. 75 friends joined us for a celebration after Mass and before the Christmas concert at St. Monica Church in Dallas. It made me reflect on how a generous life plays a role in having so many friends at age 90. Most of my mom’s friends — no, all of my mom’s friends — are younger than her.

These friends come from my mother’s practice of connected generosity. From volunteering at the Veterans Hospital in Dallas every Friday for 40 years. From opening St. Monica Church for 6:45 am weekday Mass for nearly 50 years. From organizing her parish’s Stephen Ministry, a helping hands lay ministry. From feeding people after funerals, lecturing, and serving as a Eucharistic minister for 30 years. From faithfully playing in a tennis doubles league and joining the “young ladies” at Jazzercise.

In Josie’s case, connected generosity just comes naturally. It is born out of her heart’s desire to be present, involved, and included. It’s why, on a winter’s weekend and during an ice storm that grounded hundreds of flights in Dallas, loads of people came to celebrate with her.

The event felt like an early Christmas gift and reminded us that a generous life has its rewards, many of which have nothing to do with money