Giving is Receiving

Only 18 shopping days left. Yuck. Isn't this a crazy time of year? Full of fun certainly, but also loaded with the pressure of finding the perfect gifts for loved ones and friends. That kind of generosity is certainly fulfilling, but I think this season is an especially appropriate time to think about those outside our traditional circles. Maybe those less fortunate than most of us. Or people who don't have the same great support systems of family and friends that most of us do. Who else can we add to our holiday gift list?

For the last couple of years, we've made it a tradition to adopt one of the Salvation Army's Angel Tree angels. We'll pick a tag off the tree at our local mall and go shopping. This year, we adopted a ten-year-old boy who wanted educational games and needed a coat. So we bought a couple of cool electronic spelling and math games and a family board game. Then, we couldn't agree on the coat. I was going for a lighter jacket for Texas' mild winter while my other half wanted to make sure the little boy stayed truly warm. So, we got him both. As usual, we went well over the spending amount that the Salvation Army suggests. It's well worth it though. And, quite frankly, not nearly as much as we could or should have done.

I often talk on here about ways to make our own lives more beautiful, but it's just as important to work to make others'-those we know and even those we don't-lives more beautiful as well. And there are countless opportunities to do that over the holiday season. Toy drives. Canned food drives. You can even volunteer at senior citizen homes and children's hospitals. And. of course, you can always take the simple and perfectly acceptable) way out and write a check to your favorite charitable organization. They're wonderful ways to put smiles on another face and to feel truly thankful for what you have.

So, I challenge you to do something in the next couple of weeks to make the life of someone you don't know a little more beautiful. And to continue that giving attitude all year round. It's easy to feel generous at this time of the year, but hopefully, we all will work a little harder to give a little throughout the year. It's true. It really is more blessed to give than to receive.