Because Giving is at the Heart of Christmas

christmas-cookies-553457_640The act of giving is the centerpiece of Christmas. Jesus giving His all in order to save a hopeless and dying world was and is the crux of our hope and true joy this season. I’m thankful to have grown up in a family that knew not only what it meant to receive this kind of love, but one that also knew how to give it.

My dad’s mother, Alberta Scott, was always baking prize-winning (truly!) pound cakes and delivering them to the sick and lonely around her. I marveled, even as a little girl, how effortlessly she gave of herself. She’s also the first person who introduced me to nursing homes. I didn’t care too much for it at the time but the smiles on the lonely faces seated in circles left a lasting impression on my life.

Growing up, my dad often helped others anonymously, especially elderly people living nearby. My favorite excursion involved waking up at the break of dawn and dropping off an anonymous gift (fruit, firewood, or some other need) on a porch step before the recipient awakened.

In honor of the act of giving, especially during this season, let’s take the basic idea of giving anonymously and kick it up one glorious notch. A few ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

  • Cookies, healthy treats, fruit, etc. If time is limited, pick up something. After all, our focus is not on what we give, but rather, the why. Simply attach a note to the gift bag: Taste and see that the Lord is good. {Psalm 34:8 }
  • Muffins or a loaf of bread. Or maybe a mini-loaf with a canister of tea? A possible tag option: I am the Bread of life. Your strength – today, and every day.  {John 6:35}
  • A beautiful candle for those who are hurting this year. Consider going with a mild scent, such as vanilla, for those with allergies. Attach a card: {John 1:5} – I am the Light in your darkness.  Love, Jesus

Sharing the adventure of leaving an anonymous gift on the stoop of another with your children or grandchildren will help them to personally grasp the joy of giving without any expectation of receiving something in return. I know this truth first hand, and I’m grateful for it. “Ma-Ma” is experiencing her reward in heaven, but I’m blessed to be able to thank my dad for the life-changing gift of giving in person.

Do you have a gift idea? Please share it with us in the comment section. After all, the subject is on giving! {Wink, wink} Merry Christmas to you and yours. 

 

 

Cathy Baker

Cathy Baker is an award-winning writer and author of Pauses for the Vacationing Soul: A Sensory-Based Devotional Guide for the Beach as well as Pauses for the Vacationing Soul: A Sensory-Based Devotional Guide for the Mountains. As a twenty-five-year veteran Bible instructor, she's led hundreds of studies and workshops. She's also contributed to numerous anthologies and publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Upper Room, and Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family. In addition, her poetry can be found in several popular anthologies. She and her husband, Brian, live in the foothills of the Carolinas where she one day hopes to have her very own Goldendoodle. Subscribe to Cathy's blog and receive a free e-book, Praying In Every Room of Your Home. http://www.cathybaker.org

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6 comments

  1. I love this, Cathy. Such sweet memories of your family members and how they modeled giving. The ideas with Scriptures attached are awesome ideas. Thanks for this wonderful article to inspire us.

  2. I love the idea of sharing Scripture on gift cards. I will be using Scripture Gift Tags on other occasions as well such as: Birthday, Get Well, Wedding, etc.

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