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whose birthday is it?

Our church pastor has really been pushing the “whose birthday is it this Christmas? Yes, Jesus’, not yours. So, why should YOU get gifts for Christmas?” And I completely understand where he’s coming from. How I identify may be something completely different than what you take away from it. He’s insinuating that we should give Jesus gifts.

But how do we give Jesus gifts?

It’s a gift to God when we act or respond in a Godly manner, so I would believe that  anything pleasing to our Lord will be considered a gift unto Him. Don’t you think so? After all, it’s better to GIVE than RECEIVE. People have the natural tendency to want to help, they just don’t know how. I’ve composed a short list, but welcome any suggestions that you may have.

·    Leave a quarter in a gum-ball machine with a note on it that says Merry Christmas – God bless!

·    Make a Christmas card for a homeless person(s) on the street or in a shelter.

·    Drop a “thank you” card with the bell-ringing Salvation Army volunteer(s), your fire department, your neighborhood patrol or police patrol, your garbage man.

·    Have you heard of Threads? Your contribution will directly impact an at-risk student, giving them the hope they need to succeed. “By wearing Threads, you’re wearing more than a bracelet, you’re wearing change.”

·    Make a monetary contribution to the order behind you in the drive-thru line.

·    Let someone with fewer groceries or packages to move ahead of you in the check-out line.

·    Clean out closets and take your gently used winter clothing to homeless shelters.

·    Ask your family members to commit to helping someone or volunteering to a charity for at least a week. Share with one another your experiences and watch everyone smile and/or cry happy tears.

·    Make a no-sew tie blanket and donate to the local homeless shelter and/or nursing home. Tutorial here.

·   Decorate the halls of a children’s hospital.

·   Donate gently used books to a children's hospital.

·    Buy the person's drink behind you at Starbucks.

·    Go out of your way to meet someone new. Discover their needs and help meet them.

·    Invite someone to dinner who you know is going to be alone on the holidays. Labels: birthday, charity, Christmas, holidays

 Meet Mandi