Happy Giving Season

One of my favorite responsibilities is being the C.G.O. in my family, the “Chief Giver of gifts Officer.” As the giving season commences I, like you, am beginning to think about what the perfect gift may be for those on my list. You know that feeling you get when you come up with a fabulous idea. Yes! It is so rewarding to surprise those you love with a present they will enjoy. (A few favorite gift ideas listed below.)

It feels appropriate that we start off the giving season with Thanksgiving. I love that the Thanksgiving cornucopia or horn of plenty is a symbol of abundance and nourishment. It reminds everyone that God, the ultimate giver, has given us a bountiful world to bless us. I just want to sit and breathe in all the goodness, especially this time of year, with its crisp apples, brilliant red and gold leaves, football Saturdays, cool weather, pulling out my favorite sweaters, and anticipating family and friends gathering for turkey and pie. Best of all I rejoice in knowing that God and His angels are by our side as they watch over each of us.

God desires for all of us to become givers. In Matthew 10:8, He tells us “…freely ye have received, freely give.” When I recognize my many blessings, I feel inspired to be a giver. So, along with being a giver of gifts, I am asking myself, am I a giver in life? How do I become a better giver?  Are you a giver? In what ways can I give?

As I strive to become a giver, I must not allow any depressive thinking to make me see things out of perspective. Depression gives me a scarcity mindset. It feels like I must be careful how much I give away for I may run out of things to offer. Yet deep down this feels wrong. I believe the truth is that as we give freely and fully, there will always be more because we can draw from God’s generous, never ending love, and His plentiful earth.

Author Ann Lamott in her book Bird by Bird made me smile when she talks about her desire to become a giver. She says, “In the spirit of learning to give I imagine everyone I come into contact with as a patient in the Emergency Room with gaping wounds, and I want to give them compassion, connection, and communion.”

I agree with Ms. Lamott’s idea that everyone we meet is vulnerable in one way or another and needs some kind of caregiving. There was a time when my daughter Katie and I offered caregiving as we went to an assisted living center on Friday afternoons with lotion and bright colors of fingernail polish in our purses. We would sit in the commons room and rub the elderly people’s hands with lotion and paint their nails bright colors while asking them questions about themselves growing up. We heard the most interesting stories. It was a sweet experience to connect with those good and aging, human beings. We all felt nourished. We learned the more we give, the more we get. It just works that way.

Today, I have been pondering what being a giver in life means and what I can give this season. I have come to realize the I must give deeply of myself and allow giving to be its own reward. I can give those things that we all desperately need such as time, patience, kindness, understanding, love, admiration, and support as we reach for our dreams. I must give and keep giving. Just like the horn of plenty’s fruit overflows from the basket the ways we can give never end. We can forgive, give a listening ear, give by not judging, and give an apology. I wonder what an apology wrapped up would look like. We can:

• Give a compliment
• Give Hope
• Give Humor
• Give Ideas
• Give Hugs

Giving is about loving and making a difference. Giving brings much happiness and joy into our lives. This quote sums up my feelings, “Everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts.” I believe that.

Happy Giving Season!

 

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I want to thank you for giving to me your time and support with my blog posts every month. I appreciate your kind interest. Many people have been asking me about when my book “It’s Time, Living a Full and Joyful Life with Depression and Anxiety.”will be available. The date is the first week in December. I will send a notice on the date it comes out. Thanks, Elaine