It’s official. Advent has begun. The Thanksgiving gatherings are fading into memories. We turn now our attention to Christmas. Decorations are coming out of storage. Trees are going up and lights are being hung. I truly enjoy this time of year – the anticipation, the excitement!
We also focus on giving more this time of year than any other. Unfortunately, the deep blessing that comes from being generous is often lost in the pressures of making sure all the bases are covered. We stress over making sure each family member gets the gifts they want. We lay in bed at night trying to think through all the lists. Lists of party guests to invite. Lists of gifts yet to be purchased. Lists of people who need to receive a Christmas card. Lists – endless lists.
At the heart of all this stress is a primal desire of wanting to be generous – to give and make a difference. But it gets lost in the frantic panic of making sure it all gets done and gets done well.
Our culture has created trends around particular days leading up to the Christmas day event. Over the years, Black Friday has taken on a life of its own. As if that was not enough, we now have Cyber Monday and just this morning I received a plethora of emails telling me that “It’s not too late – Cyber Monday continues all week!”
In the midst of the chaos, don’t lose sight of the heart of the matter – the season is about a true, life-forming, world-changing gift. The most generous gift ever given was laid in a feed trough 2000 years ago. This gift sparked a movement and it still does.
In some ways, this movement is influencing a new trend being formed in our culture. This new emphasis is striving to bring the idea of pure generosity back to the forefront of our minds. To combat the materialism that has become associated with this time of year, a new trend is forming – #givingtuesday. It’s an effort to keep the idea of being generous in our minds as we move through this season.
So this year, as we focus on making sure everything is just right, don’t forget to be generous. While you take advantage of the extension of Cyber Monday today, consider making one of your favorite charities a recipient of your generosity on this Giving Tuesday. If you are part of a local body of believers, consider making an additional contribution to your church. I know our church could make good use of contributions this time of year!
Don’t let the heart of generosity get lost in the heat of the frenzy. Be generous today – – and every day!
Be a blessing this #givingtuesday!
“Don’t look at me!”
The purpose of the email was to tell him how much he means to me and to thank him for the impact he has made in my life. I remember sending the email but I had to go back and dig up the email to remember what I had said. In that email I shared with him that I had had lunch with a wonderful man earlier that day who made the statement that he was tired of learning about people at their funerals and we all need to do a better job of appreciating people while they are still with us. I was so touched by his words that day that I was inspired to reach out to a number of people who have poured into me over the years.
Clay in the Hands 