Dear Jackson and Maddie,
As we walked home from trick-or-treating last night, Maddie thought we should put away her Halloween decorations and put up her Christmas tree in her room. Right now. And while your dad would vehemently protest if I put up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, Maddie made a good point.
The moment Halloween is over, I am in full preparation mode for the upcoming birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s season. It is a well-oiled machine beginning with our annual shoe box packing for Operation Christmas Child and wrapping up with our New Year’s Day open house of football, food, friends and family.
Yes it is a lot of work, especially since both of your birthdays are the same week as Thanksgiving. But it is more than worth the effort every year. The joy of giving to a child who has never received a Christmas gift, creating memorable birthday celebrations, enjoying the emotional warmth that always comes with the Christmas decorations, spending time with family and friends, being able to honor those we love with well-chosen gifts – I receive so much more than I give.
One of my greatest hopes is that you develop a spirit of generosity – not just at the holidays but every day throughout the year.
All of the toys my wonderfully generous co-workers gave to Toys for Tots.
The joy of generosity can be experienced much better than explained. There is a unique joy in giving. It frees you from the greed, envy and selfishness that seem to be inherent in the human experience. When you give something to someone you know needs it more than you, there is a happiness that is not felt any other way.
As you give, I also pray that you will learn to give wisely. Because even good things should be done in moderation.
First and foremost, organize your life in such a way that you can afford to give. Your dad and I have chosen to live frugally so we can afford to live generously. We choose to shop for the best deal, coupon clip and drive a perfectly functional older car so we can afford to give generously. If you spend every penny you earn, you will not have the ability to give or reap its vast benefits. The joy of giving far outweighs any pleasure a new car, the latest electronic gadget or toy might bring.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that God loves a cheerful giver. So don’t give just because someone sends you on a guilt trip. That is a really great time to give nothing. If you create, and follow, plan to give, you have the freedom to say “no” without guilt. (And yes, you need a plan to give because you will never just find the money and you will always find something else you can’t live without.)
Of course, you may choose to do more than your planned giving. Some of my most joyful moments are those when I met need on the spot – such as paying for the groceries of the person ahead of me in line when I knew of a need, buying back-to-school supplies for a family going through crisis or purchasing months worth of diapers for a young couple struggling to get on their feet. Don’t ignore spontaneous opportunities but don’t deprive yourself the joy of giving by doing so only out of obligation.
I pray that you will gain the discernment to help others who are truly in need – and not to enable ongoing poor choices. Dave Ramsey notes that when money is given to individuals who continue to make poor choices it is the financial equivalent of giving a drunk a drink. While it is often hard not to give in those situations, you need to be wise about how you can best help this person create a better life.
It also is important to give within your means. In I Timothy 5:8, the Bible says that your first obligation is to your own household. It is not appropriate to avoid meeting your own obligations or providing for your family because you gave to someone else. There is an old cliche that says “Charity begins at home.” And it is true. You need to take care of your family first.
As we enter this holiday season, I am excited to wrap presents that I know will delight you. And I continue to pray that you will grow into people with an outrageous sense of generosity.
Love,
Mom
learnedonthejourney 