The spirit of giving. . .
I am one of those folks who loves all aspects of the holidays. As I said in my last post, from the lights to the music, I am hooked. I also honor the tradition of giving to others and take many opportunities to do so. Pulling an angel from a tree at the grocery or at church, and then shopping for the very item someone has requested fills my heart with joy. It’s even more fun than choosing some thing for myself. I didn’t grow up in a wealthy family, but we could always count on a few gifts at Christmas. Far too many children aren’t that lucky and taking care of one or two of them every Christmas makes my holiday more special.
One in five children live in poverty in this country. It’s shameful that in a country as rich as ours so many children are left to wonder where they will sleep at night or if they will have any thing to eat before going to bed. I don’t mean for this post to be “preachy,” or political, but I am hoping to encourage any one who chooses to read it to consider making this holiday special for some one else. It’s easy. Outside of every grocery and on many street corners in every city throughout the country, there are bell ringers for the Salvation Army. They provide hope for millions of families. We can be a part of that chain. In many stores there are large boxes marked Toys for Tots. While buying for a member of your own family, consider buying an extra toy or sweater or book for some other child.
There are so many ways to give, actually. Giving gifts is only one of the ways. Giving prayers counts too. So does giving a warm smile to a person who looks like she needs one. Giving acknowledgment to a person’s presence is a gift that is long remembered and most often gets paid forward. That’s the real beauty of giving, I’ve discovered. It starts a trend. Giving begets giving. It’s worth considering starting the trend among all the acquaintances you have. Give something specific to one of them and see how it gets paid forward.
The spirit of giving shouldn’t be confined to holidays. It’s a mindset, I’ve discovered, one that can be cultivated if it’s not a natural inclination. Make it a point to give the gift of something to someone every day and see how it changes you. I can assure you your own life will change.
