A Week of Giving
Posted on Nov 20, 2018 by Heather Lewis
The dichotomy of Thanksgiving week makes me cringe, but also laugh with the irony: we are given the excuse to do nothing but cook, eat, and be with those we love as we give thanks Thursday, and then jump right into the Christmas shopping craze. I think it’s brilliant that Tuesday of next week is now called Giving Tuesday, to encourage us to give to those less fortunate before we spend all we can fulfilling Christmas wishes.
There are so many examples of organizations giving to those who can’t give back! Salem’s Pantry Pack program gave my daughter’s Brownie troop the experience of packing a bag of food for local needy families, but more importantly explained the joy of relationships and trust formed with our families. Holiday Heroes is a program through a local radio station that provides Christmas wish lists from kids in foster care, and organizes the gift distribution. Creating shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is something I do every year with my kids, and I hope that it gives them some perspective: we buy simple gifts for a child who may not get anything else, and write a note of encouragement to let them know we care.
I hope that on this week of thanksgiving, you find joy in giving to others. Your blessings will spread further than you know.
In Christ’s love,
Heather Lewis
Director of Music and Worship