Have you gotten a bit jaded with the holiday season? Don’t get me wrong – I love celebrating my faith and spending time with family. But it seems as though everything has gotten so commercialized, and the whole focus is on buy, buy, buy. And then buy some more. And then find room for all the stuff that everyone else buys to give to you. While I’m thankful when people think enough of me to get me a gift…I. Don’t. Need. It. Seriously. I have everything I need and then some.
What if we were as serious about true giving as we are about Black Friday and Cyber Monday? What if?
Giving Tuesday is trying to accomplish that goal and focus on true giving as opposed to the never ending cycle of buy this, get that, save more, spend more, blah, blah, blah. It’s not just a rat race – it’s an eternal hamster wheel that we can’t seem to get off of.
In my faith, Christianity, we are taught to give without expecting something in return. We are taught not to celebrate ourselves for giving, but rather to give quietly and reap the blessings that true giving sows.
Giving Tuesday takes place right after the mad rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday; this year on Tuesday, December 2. So how can you take part? It’s easy. Very easy. Observe a need, no matter how large or small, and meet it. It could be as easy as bringing someone’s newspaper up to their door or as big as giving a sizable donation to your favorite charity. It could even be giving to someone who doesn’t have a need. Just for the simple joy of giving. When was the last time you did that? Got kids? Give each of them $10 and tell them that the catch is that they have to give it in a way that causes the biggest impact. You’ll be amazed at how creative and generous your kids will be!
Let me tell you about a time when someone gave me a gift that meant so much to me. She will probably never realize what an impact it had. My mother was in a coma in the hospital and had been for about a week. She was only 62 years old and we didn’t know what was wrong; all we knew was that it seemed that she was dying. My young, vibrant, best friend mother was actually dying. My sisters and I literally spent 24/7 at the hospital. But one quiet afternoon, a friend who owned a salon just a few minutes from the hospital called and said, “The salon is closed. I want you three to come here and let me give you pedicures. Let me just minister to you for a little while. Let me just take care of you for a quiet moment.” So we went. We were only gone for about an hour, but that was a precious gift. My mother only lived for a few more days. But I still remember that gift given with no expectations of anything in return.
This year, after you’ve woken up from your turkey tryptophan daze, instead of just saying, “I should do something…give something,” why not actually do it? Instead of being a bystander while others do the giving and get that giving feeling, join the party! You know, when people get up off of their a…pathy – big things happen.
If you like, click here to go to the GiveForward site and find a recipient and a story that speaks to you…that resonates in your heart. GiveForward facilitates giving all year long, but you can make an extra special impact if you give on Giving Tuesday.
What will you get when you give?? Share your Giving Tuesday moments by using the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #GiveForward.
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