It got me thinking about giving, though, because I think that this time of year people focus so much on obligatory giving, giving certain amounts as well as focusing on feeling guilty about what we can't give. I have definitely had times in my life when I have been able to give more than others, but I've realized that giving doesn't have to be just about money. I remember when I joined the Methodist church the promise was to support it with prayers, presence, gifts and service. I remember someone along the way saying that there are times when each of these is more prevalent and that we can be happy about focusing about what we can give.
My girls are so great about giving what they can, whether it is toys or books or clothes that they have, or money that they have gotten, or sending a card or a text or email. I have learned from them, and from God's guidance that if we just focus on what we can give and not feel guilty about what we cannot give, it brings forth so many more great opportunities to participate in giving every day.
Some examples that I have found inspiring and helpful are: giving someone a book or movie that you watched and don't need to keep, giving someone a text to let them know that you are thinking about them, offering to pick up someone's kids, giving someone a card (handwritten is pretty rare these days!), when you go through a drive-through and realize that you could afford your bill if it was $5 more you can get a $5 gift card to give to someone who doesn't get to eat out a lot, giving your time to pick up something for a friend at the store, letting your kids mail a picture they drew to someone, sending a text of a Bible verse or a picture to someone, giving an invitation to someone to meet for tea after the kids go to bed, offering to watch someone's kids so they can do some shopping or go out on a date night, giving time to take food to a shelter that someone else collected, making some extra food to take to someone so they don't have to worry about a meal, giving extra coats or gloves or hats so someone else is not cold, giving Bibles (we can usually find them at Dollar Tree), giving time to help someone with a project, volunteering to help at a short term project at church or school, and even giving a smile to someone who doesn't expect it.
Giving really does breed good feelings and community and can change someone else's day. I have also notice that the spirit of giving leads to the desire to find more ways to give. Try to find your own creative ways, especially now during the season of giving. You never know what kind of effect it could have on someone else.
So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then? He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Luke 3:10-11
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