Turn The Season Of Giving Into More

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Abstract

and execute. My mom and he remarried at this church and ever since they’ve been active volunteers. I don’t know what will happen when they’re no longer able to run the show. They do so much.When my mother joined the United Church in her fifties, it gave her a sense of community and purpose. I watched her and my stepfather over the years take part in committees and help run the fundraising and outreach activities. When I see them in action, it makes me so proud.My mom tutored a family of Karen kids from Myanmar (Burma) who grew up in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand. They somehow ended up in Canada, to a city where the church would sponsor them.She spent years with these kids, and I met two of them this weekend. She helped them with their English and other homework, provided them with emotional support, took them to dentist appointments, and more. My mom was able to do this after she retired from teaching.She became a key person in their lives.We felt pretty amazing to be part of the Christmas tree sales this one time of year — but it’s really about doing the good work all year. Is the C

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hristmas spirit people talk about — lights, music, and the festive energy what makes us feel good? In part, yes. But it’s more about giving. They call it the season of giving, but what about a life of giving?And not just the giving of stuff.I’m at a stage in life where I don’t have a lot of time to volunteer with an organization, but I still have time to serve.My neighbor, two doors down, is 65 and starved for affection. She has adopted our family as her own. My son is her other grandson. The knock on the door at 9:30 am during my workday is never convenient, but I know it makes her day. Conversation, venting about her very tough life, or a hug. That’s all she needs.One way I serve is by pausing my day and having tea with her. Last week, we had her over for dinner.We’re raising our son to show him that serving people around you can take shape in so many ways.When you can give a little, do. When you can give a lot, do that.Whether it’s time, money, energy, love, or a helping hand, it fills you with that spirit of giving all year long.</article></body>

Make it last all year!

On Saturday we drove a couple of hours to help at my mom and stepfather’s church. It’s their annual Christmas tree fundraiser that helps pay for things like meals for people in crisis, supplies for immigrant families, medical care, and so on.

About forty volunteers gathered to unload, arrange the trees, cut twine, and set up the tree at the church. My six-year-old got to unload the last tree and one member took his picture alongside his grandpa. It was a proud moment.

We felt good to be in their circle of giving. Everyone was mostly over seventy, and they needed a few younger bodies to do the real lifting. I wasn’t one of them! My husband in the picture above stood on top of the truck with four other volunteers and hauled trees one by one, down to people below.

My stepfather has been the head of the Christmas tree sale for over two decades. It takes months to plan and execute. My mom and he remarried at this church and ever since they’ve been active volunteers. I don’t know what will happen when they’re no longer able to run the show. They do so much.

When my mother joined the United Church in her fifties, it gave her a sense of community and purpose. I watched her and my stepfather over the years take part in committees and help run the fundraising and outreach activities. When I see them in action, it makes me so proud.

My mom tutored a family of Karen kids from Myanmar (Burma) who grew up in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand. They somehow ended up in Canada, to a city where the church would sponsor them.

She spent years with these kids, and I met two of them this weekend. She helped them with their English and other homework, provided them with emotional support, took them to dentist appointments, and more. My mom was able to do this after she retired from teaching.

She became a key person in their lives.

We felt pretty amazing to be part of the Christmas tree sales this one time of year — but it’s really about doing the good work all year. Is the Christmas spirit people talk about — lights, music, and the festive energy what makes us feel good? In part, yes. But it’s more about giving. They call it the season of giving, but what about a life of giving?

And not just the giving of stuff.

I’m at a stage in life where I don’t have a lot of time to volunteer with an organization, but I still have time to serve.

My neighbor, two doors down, is 65 and starved for affection. She has adopted our family as her own. My son is her other grandson. The knock on the door at 9:30 am during my workday is never convenient, but I know it makes her day. Conversation, venting about her very tough life, or a hug. That’s all she needs.

One way I serve is by pausing my day and having tea with her. Last week, we had her over for dinner.

We’re raising our son to show him that serving people around you can take shape in so many ways.

When you can give a little, do. When you can give a lot, do that.

Whether it’s time, money, energy, love, or a helping hand, it fills you with that spirit of giving all year long.