Dear New Life Friends,
Random acts of kindness and alternate forms of giving...
What do you give the person that has everything?
What do you give the person who is difficult to buy for?
What do you give the person who is unsuspecting?
Random acts of kindness and alternate forms of giving are two of my favorite ways I’ve seen people respond to internal struggles like these.
Giving can be both stressful and extremely fulfilling.
It can be stressful in that we want to please, honor and respect others by what we give. It can be stressful in that we may not have the resources to be able to give them what we’d really like to give. It may be stressful in that we are not sure of their reaction.
Giving can also be extremely fulfilling when we keep in mind why it is that we give during this season. The fact that people give during the Christmas season is directly reflective of God giving us the greatest gift of all time - his Son! We give because God first gave to us.
That’s why I love to hear stories of random acts of kindness at this time of year. People who have been a blessing to others who weren’t expecting - raking leaves, buying coffee, covering a bill.
The other stories I love to hear are ways that people have been creative with alternate forms of giving - homemade crafts, gift of time and expertise, giving to a particular cause in someone’s honor.
These are all stories of deep generosity of the heart. When I hear these stories of random acts of kindness and alternate forms of giving, they are often told with great enthusiasm and a twinkle in the eye, often without any indication of stress.
Giving can reflect the very image, character and nature of God.
My prayer for you is that if you decide to give during this season that you experience the true joy and fulfillment it brings not only to you, but to others and to God.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Mike