I didn’t have a generous bone in my body. That’s the truth I used to live by. As the first in my family to immigrate to the U.S. from Panama, I carried the weight of generations shaped by scarcity. Success in the corporate world didn’t erase the deeply ingrained mindset that told me to hold on tightly—to money, to control, to safety. But everything changed in 2020.
At the start of the COVID pandemic, a series of unexpected events shook me to my core. Amid uncertainty, I found myself stepping into something I hadn’t known I needed: radical faith and spontaneous generosity. It all began with a single email—an act of giving that felt small but opened the door to a life of adventure with God. That email was from Women Doing Well, to join The Pathway and discover my purpose, passion, and plan for generosity.
A New Lens on Generosity
Through that moment, I began to see generosity not as a transaction, but as a spiritual awakening. I learned that we are absolutely dependent on Jesus, and that dependence is what makes the journey exciting. I started asking deeper questions:
Who am I serving—God or money? What kind of legacy am I leaving?
I realized I had a choice: Do I want to return to the person I used to be, or am I courageous enough to change and become the person I didn’t know I needed to be?
The Women Doing Well Process
Walking through the Women Doing Well process was revolutionary. It helped me reframe my view of money, purpose, and generosity—especially within the Hispanic cultural context, where scarcity often shapes our stories. I began to understand that generosity is not just money. It’s time, presence, prayer, and sacrifice.
Running Toward God
One of the most unexpected ways God moved in my life was through running. I started a faith-based running group, and it quickly became a space for outreach, connection, and spiritual growth. As we ran, we prayed. As we prayed, we healed. I discovered the power of constant prayer through movement and how physical discipline can mirror spiritual dependence.
Creating a New Generational Story
Today, I’m passionate about breaking generational cycles of scarcity and fostering a generous culture in my home. I invite others to express generosity in multi-dimensional ways—through relationships, service, and spontaneous giving. Because when you give in response to the Spirit, you never miss that money.
I’ve learned that you have to decide if you are going to be a consequence of your background or you want to create a new generational story. For me, the choice was clear. And the journey has been nothing short of miraculous.
Practical Ways to Practice Relational Generosity
- Host a prayer walk in your neighborhood
- Start a gratitude journal with your family
- Offer mentorship to someone in your community
- Give your time to listen deeply to a friend in need
- Share your story—your testimony is a gift
Final Thoughts
When I decided to stop holding on so tightly to all the things I thought I could control and that I thought belonged to me, a whole new world opened. Generosity is a lifestyle, a mindset, and a spiritual practice. And it’s available to all of us—no matter where we come from.
*This blog post was thoughtfully adapted from Karla Merrell’s interview on The Finish Line podcast, offering a glimpse into her journey of moving from striving to surrender and how her views on wealth, purpose, and generosity have grown and deepened over time. You can listen to the full podcast interview here.
