In my last column I wrote about my thoughts relative to gratitude as I reflected upon Thanksgiving Day approaching. By the time you read this, most of us will have had our fill of turkey, ALL the side dishes and desserts that make up a feast, hopefully around tables with family and friends who you appreciate and love. For us, my husband and I enjoyed the day with my brother and his family in his home. It’d been several years since we enjoyed a Thanksgiving Day together, so with great intention, we made the decision to spend time together.

With thoughts of gratitude behind me now, my mind has transitioned to “giving”. Christmas is fast approaching which is the most popular season of giving in today’s culture. The spirit of Christmas seems to lure folks into jolly attitudes and loving generous hearts that fill kettles for Salvation Army, purchase gifts for needy families, line community pantry shelves with food…send extra financial gifts to organizations in our community and even around the world.

This past week I taught a lesson for our local Celebrate Recovery group. Lesson 23 is titled “Give” and is based on Step 12 of the program: “Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs”. A scripture that accompanies this step comes from Matthew 10:8: “Freely you have received, freely give”.  

In order to add some personal depth to my lesson, I asked for answers to this question I posted on one of my social  media accounts. “What is your main way of giving: financial, volunteering, performing tasks without pay, etc.” The responses I received were great so I’m sharing some of them in my column this week.

• Jackie & her husband Rick provide afghans and blankets for Veterans. Together, they purchase all the supplies. Jackie does the crocheting. At Christmas, Rick bakes dozens of cookies to give to the staff at the Veterans’ Hospital in Saginaw.
• Jenifer, a single mom, noted that she tithes 10% of her income, serves in children’s ministry and when her budget allows she provides a meal for a family in need. She also focuses on “loving like Jesus” wherever she goes each day.
• Marilyn said “giving is only giving when it hurts a little”. For her, being stretched to give more whether it’s money or her time asks her to answer this question –”what do I need to ‘give’ to make it a true gift.
• Ellen didn’t mince words. “If you need help, I’m your girl!”
• Sarah told me “any craft related creation. You have a vision? If I have the ability, I’m your girl!”
• Julie and her grandkids make care packages for homeless people in their community. Whatever they can fit into a gallon size bag, the items go! Gloves, hat, socks, and personal hygiene products.
• Cassie loves spending time with teens, sacrificing her own schedule to hang out with students.
• Leslie is another one who crochets and knits blankets, mainly for family members. She told me that with every stitch she makes, a prayer is spoken for the person who receives the blanket.
• Gretchen had the most endearing way of giving. She lives in a senior housing apartment complex and recently a woman who is deaf moved into their midst. Gretchen invited an ASL student to come and teach her and the residents American Sign Language. This woman was thrilled and as they all learned how to sign, she was able to help them hone their skills along the way. 

No doubt, with increased inflation all around us at the grocery store, gas stations, restaurants–financial giving will be a stretch for many of us. A harsher economy doesn’t mean that hardships will miraculously go away; on the contrary folks we never expected to fall upon hard times will experience a variety of needs. Yet, many of us, can still help in many ways. One of my best friends Chris lives by the motto to “hold onto things with loose hands”…basically, she has much she can share with someone who needs it more than she. When I heard about this approach to having more than enough, I adopted the concept which has seen an increase in our own generosity.  I also was reminded about a time during the Great Depression when my Grandma Jewell gently chastised my Gramp. 

With a growing number of children to feed, there were most likely 8 mouths around her dinner table by the time the ‘30s rolled into their meager livelihood on the family farm. Putting together a meal took a lot of creativity and prayer. A neighbor down the road had truly fallen on hard times. His wife had died, leaving him with two small children to raise. My dad told me “those kids were pretty smart. They always knew when dinner time was at our house and would lollygag in our yard rather than go home.” Several times Gramp found them at the dinner table making it 10 hungry bellies to fill now. Dad and his siblings found out that in private their father had told Grandma…”Sadie, I can’t keep feeding those kids. I’ve got enough of my own to worry about”. Her gentle response was all he heeded.

“Clarence, those children don’t have a momma and they’re hungry”. 

Her pantry continued to provide for each meal and Grandpa never challenged her again.

Give. How do you respond to this command? I am convinced that my grandmother and countless generous folks in our communities are living out the truth behind Jesus’ words to “freely give” because He has so “freely given”. I’m also confident that many of us have “more” we can sacrifice, ample resources to let go from loosely held hands.

Giving and serving is a thermometer of our love. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. “My children, love must not be a matter of words or talk; it must be genuine, and show itself in action”. 1st John 3:18