30 Day Giving Update!

The giving challenge is winding down. This has been a particularly eye opening challenge for me!

I've realized how easy it is to give. Giving does not have to be time consuming or expensive. It often does not even make a bump in your day! I've never really thought about giving in such a deep way.

I've avoided saying specific things I've given as I want to avoid sharing my deeds, but I will mention one thing that took no time or money to do- a thing that I would have not considered as "giving" until I thought about it:

We let a man on the train plug his iPod into our laptop to recharge it. We were watching a movie at the time, and it was charged by the end of the film. He had a much longer journey than ours, and was very happy that he could listen to his music again. It took no extra time. The laptop was on anyway, so we did not have to do anything special or inconvenient. He was extremely grateful that we did this for him, and it was easy.

How many times do we have the opportunity to do something that means very little to us, but may mean the world to somebody else? How many times do we avoid giving because we're worried about the time it will take? How much does our kindness truly cost? I've discovered during this challenge that the costs are low, but the payouts high.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

What did you discover during this challenge?

30 Day Giving Challange: Spreading the Word

It's amazing to see all the giving that has been going on as a result of this challenge. Kingdom First Mom mentioned something that called to me- NICU Survival Kits being put together by Quatro Mom. Go here to see what you can do to help!

Monday Morning Mention

Happy Monday! Since I'm doing the 30 Day Giving Challenge, I thought I'd devote this MMM to inexpensive giving opportunities!

Write letters to seriously ill children and make them smile! All it costs is a stamp and some creativity.

Donate blood. Easy, quick, and you usually get a free cookie and/or juice at the end.

Use your coupon stockpile to assemble care packages for women in domestic violence shelters. Or donate money to charities like this, that make women's shelters a little more welcoming for women and children coming out of a seemingly hopeless situation.

Check out The Give List blog to find lots of great giving ideas...without having to pull out a checkbook.

Have a great week!

Operation Christmas Child

I'm helping spread the word for Operation Christmas Child as part of my 30 Days of Giving. I've never done it before, but it seems like a great program! If you're a couponer/stopckpiler, this would be a GREAT and inexpensive charity to support. Even if you're not, it would be an inexpensive way to make a child's day. Check it out!

Giving Quote 'o the Day

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding.
~Kahlil Gibran

The 30 Day Giving Challange: Reflections on Being Good

Do you ever get tired of being good?

I know I sure do. That's not to say I'm a paragon of virtue all, or even most, of the time. I'm as selfish and cranky as the rest of us.

But I was not a terribly rebellious teenager, and my husband and I do our best to live honest lives. It does get tiresome, especially when it seems like those around us do whatever they want with little or no consequence for their action. Why be honest on our taxes? Why be financially responsible? Why sacrifice our time for others, why give to charity? Why not throw in the towel and live a hedonistic adventure? Why be good so much of the time?

This is why I gasped a little when I read the driving verse for the thirty day giving challenge:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

God knew that we'd get weary in doing good. He knew. It's normal that we're tired of it at times. It's normal to want to drive off into the world of selfish pleasures, nary a thought to goodness here! He knew, and he left this for us to remind us that our goodness is not in vain. He did not say "Go be good so everyone can run over you and enjoy things you'll never see, while you sit quietly and give to others with no reward." That's not what He said. Do not give up, and we will see the fruit of our goodness.

That is so, so encouraging to me.

I've kept track of my blessings, but it's never occurred to me to keep track of what I give. That seemed a bit...wrong...to me. Why should I think of what I've given? Why should I be reminded that I've done things? But why not? There's a difference between reminding myself and keeping a checklist. I'm not saying, "Okay, I've done this, and I will not do one more thing until I see a reward! I'm waiting..." I'm just reminding myself that there is fruit to my labor. Writing things down helps us see clearly. I tell my students that all the time, yet I've never practiced that myself in terms of what I've given.

Perhaps keeping track of the blessings we get for a short time will remind us that giving is not just an exercise in futility. We get what we give- I believe that absolutely. I've seen in my life before.

We all need a reminder here and there.

How's your 30 Day Challenge going?

30 Day Giving Challange

Do you?
(click box above for more info.)