Black Friday has been around for several years now and in the last few years Cyber Monday has joined the ranks.  Last week I learned there is now a day to celebrate called Giving Tuesday.  The first two “special” days I mentioned are okay in their own way and offer a savings on shopping for the holidays so in that way they are helpful, but I really like the idea of Giving Tuesday.  This day is plugged as a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.  We know a lot of people and organizations are working hard to get our donation dollars, especially this time of year.

Benevolence does not just involve giving money, however.  We can give of our time and energy.  We can clean out things we no longer need or use and offer them to others less fortunate.  We can make baked goods and share them with neighbors.  We can do a chore for someone to make their life easier if only for a short time.  The list goes on and on and even more importantly, it doesn’t just have to occur on Giving Tuesday.  It can transpire every day of the year as most of us are blessed with such abundance.

We can see the evidence of this wonderful giving in our everyday lives.  In 14 days from now we will be celebrating the greatest gift ever…the birth of the Savior of our world! Jesus Christ came into this world to give us everlasting life!  There has been no greater gift in the history of the world and how sanctified we have been by His generous present that cost much more than dollars…it cost Him His life. This unconditional love we are so fortunate to experience is given to us everyday of the year and not just on Giving Tuesday.  How blessed we are.  Let’s be givers of God’s love in our daily life and share the good news by actions and deeds that reflect the way God would want us to live. Jesus is after all the reason for the season.

Patty