Wednesday, December 8, 2010

'Tis the Season for...

Tis the season for greediness giving. I really am happy for retailers that they make good money during this time of year, but I despise how wrapped up in STUFF we get and how "I gotta have ____!" I've been guilty of it, too. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Some kids/people get nothing, not even a meal, not even a warm place to sleep. But, it doesn't have to be that way. We can help! We can make this a time of true giving and not just for the people we are closest to.

This Christmas, join me in giving something to those who otherwise might not get anything at all. If you're in Abbeville: call the schools and find out if any of their students need clothes, shoes, jackets and donate your hand-me-downs. Call local churches to find out if they're serving meals or having a clothing drive. Ask around - it won't be hard to find someone who's been laid off and needs help giving their family gifts. Call DSS and donate old toys kids who aren't in their parents custody.

If you're in Greenwood: Grace Community Church has an Angel Tree with families you can sponsor (due Wednesday), work with the Salvation Army, or help with the soup kitchen at the First Presbyterian Church.

In Columbia: help the Nehemiah Project deliver hot meals to families next Saturday (comment below for details on this); donate food/money/clothes to the homeless shelter on Two Notch or to the womens' shelter on North Main St; find a boys and girls home nearest you and make their Christmas brighter!

No matter where you live, there IS something you can do to help others. If you're like me and have way more than you need, tell someone to donate something in your honor instead of giving you a present this year! If you can't spare much in the way of money this year, you can still invest in others simply by giving them time - volunteer at a shelter/soup kitchen, or even volunteer for Big Brother/Big Sister! Wouldn't you want someone to do that for you, if you needed it?

Maybe you're like me and have this strong desire to help those who need it most? And if you're like me, it's easy to get discouraged just thinking about all the millions of people out there who need so much. It's overwhelming - like using a medicine dropper to empty the ocean! But, helping them one by one is better than not at all! So this year, if you can...give back (the more medicine droppers we use, the faster that ocean empties)! And remember that prayer is not the 'least' we can do, it's better than any sweater or hot meal! So, if you want to give to those who need it most this year, pick someone or a family and pray for that person/people in 2011. Let's make this the season of giving to others!