***Farm Hunting Update: 2 weeks and 2 days until closing!!! ***
What Is It Really About? - In The Community
Yesterday we looked at what we do in our home to fulfill our purpose of the Christmas celebration, today and tomorrow we are going to look at what we do in the community.
Are you frustrated with the government lately? Politics in general? What about the direction that our society is headed? Wanna change it, but feel like it is too large of a task? Don't despair....Share!!!
Do you want to teach your children that it is not "all about them"? Do you want to teach them to serve others? Show them how it is done!!!
Sharing what God has done for us with the community is one of our greatest blessings at Christmas time. It takes so very little from us to make a huge impact on someone's day and even their life.
How do we do it? Well, today I am going to give you some ideas of things we have done in the past, as a family, to serve in the community. Tomorrow I will share with you our Christmas Kindness Countdown!!
So, in looking to serve outside of our home, the first thing we saw a need for was to NOTICE PEOPLE. Let's begin with that one!!
- Notice people! Slow down and notice all of the people that you walk past. Make sure you smile at them and say hello. Though, contrary to popular belief, the suicide rate drops in December, the depression rate increases. People feel stressed, losses are more profound, and many just feel like they don't matter. Smiling and acknowledging everyone you pass is such a simple thing, but it can make such a huge difference in someone's day.
- Pack up several Christmas Survival Kits and keep in your car to hand out to people on the street corners asking for help or money. Some of the items I suggest putting in there are cheese crackers, a blanket, loaf of bread, peanut butter, plastic knife, protein bars, a special Christmas snack, a Christmas card letting them know you will pray for them (and make sure you do :)), dried fruit, and the like. You need items that do not require refrigeration and can be opened easily. Some people will not have can openers, so if you include any canned items, you might stick a can opener in there.
- Make a point to look around as you go about your day and find people who might need your help. This can be opening a door, loading their groceries, reaching a can on the top shelf, or unloading their groceries onto the checkout counter. You will be surprised at the opportunities that God gives you each day to help people when you actually take the time to slow down and look for them.
- When you make donations, make them good! Our family worked at a crisis center in October and we were given the task of sorting through the donated clothing and food. Boy was that a lesson in how to donate!! It was GROSS going through some of those bags of clothes that people dropped off. If it has huge stains on it, you might just think of recycling the material for a project. No one wants to wear your hubby's old t-shirts with giant yellow stains running down the armpits!! Sorting really convicted me to be a better donor with my clothing and food. I mean, do you really want someone to eat green beans that expired in 1990??!!
- Tip like you care. When you go out to eat or to pick up that slushie at Sonic, tip the people more than is customary if you can. There was one day we went to Sonic during happy hour and all got their half-price sodas and slushies. My total was around $3 so I paid $8. The lady that was helping us was so shocked at the $5 tip! She told us that we would not know how much she appreciated it. Now, if I had not tipped her that $5, I am sure I would have spent it on various things that don't matter. How much better to use it and change someone's day??!!
- Wear a smile when you go out! This is another one of those things that sounds so simple, yet can have a huge impact. Smile in the car when you are frustrated with the driver in front of you, smile as you wait in long lines at the checkout counter, just smile everywhere you go during your day. The benefit it two-fold. First, you seem more approachable to people and a smile can calm a situation down quickly. Second, you help yourself!! Remember the saying "Fake it 'till you make it"? It's true!!! So put on that beautiful smile of yours and share your joy with others!!
- Pray. Pray for your community and leaders. Pray for your faith community and leaders. Praying for someone is the greatest gift you can give!!!
- Participate in sharing/giving programs. There are many Angel Tree, Adopt-A-Family, Christmas Shoe Box and various programs out there. Pick one (or even two!!) and participate!! Go shopping as a family and pick out gifts for the child or family that you chose to sponsor, pray over the gifts and turn them in!
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