Some years you just don’t feel it. Decorating feels like a chore and shopping feels shallow and materialistic. No matter how many light displays you drive by, nothing feels magical. And as you sit in church and listen to what you you assume is the piece you’ve been missing, the message just doesn’t hit the same.
Have you ever felt this way?
I’ve discovered a solution – generosity! I’ve always loved Christmas, but giving was not always part of our tradition. And I’ll admit it started out of an obligatory sense of duty (and a little peer pressure). A group I was in did an adopt-a-family, so of course we participated. The next year I organized something similar in another group I was in. And it just grew from there.
For the past ten years giving has been an integral part of our family’s Christmas – so much so that it just doesn’t feel like Christmas without it. And it’s grown over time, not because our financial situation has dramatically changed but because the very act of generosity opens your heart to approach the season (and money in general) in a very different way.
I can’t explain it, but it’s almost like magic. There are so many great verses on giving and generosity, but here are a couple of my favorites:
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7)
A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. (Proverbs 18:16)
I’ve found that the simple act of giving (even if not done for completely genuine reasons in the beginning) can bring about true change once you experience the joy of generosity. So if you’re not feeling the Christmas spirit this year, try finding ways to be generous. And “generosity” doesn’t need to be lavish; everyone has a different capacity. Here are some ideas:
- Deliver a coffee to your friend unannounced.
- Send an anonymous gift to a friend.
- Participate in a hygiene supply drive or food drive. If you can, splurge on name-brand or expensive brands.
- Bring dinner to a neighbor.
- Be generous with your home or your time. Invite someone over for Christmas Dinner who might be lonely for the holiday.
Have you ever experienced the joy that comes with giving? What are some other creative ways to be generous this season?
