The Season of Giving

The Season of Giving

I hope you’re enjoying the fall season. October is coming to a close, and for many of us, we start thinking about Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. This is often a time of year for celebration, gratitude, family gatherings, joy, fun and gift giving, and setting goals for the new year. 

Sadly, some of my clients are not thinking or talking about this upcoming season with anticipation. Instead, the season brings sadness, loneliness, anxiety and depression, and they aren’t looking forward to it. Some don’t have jobs, and don’t know how they’ll buy food and gifts. Others don’t have family to celebrate with, or they’ve gone through a divorce or loss of a loved one, and it’s their first holiday season alone. Some have a loved one incarcerated. Others are new in our country, and don’t understand our celebrations. For some, the season brings back sad childhood memories. 

Their pain and hurt are very real. How can we support them as they try to pick up the pieces and move forward? 

  • Volunteer at a shelter to help feed the homeless during this season.
  • If your favorite food store is giving away turkeys or ham and you don’t need it, consider donating to a local food bank.
  • Does your church, school, bank, or local real estate office offer a giving tree? Take a name and buy gifts.
  • Get involved with community outreach.
  • Adopt a family or invite a family to dinner.
  • Involve your kids, and do this work together.

We never know what others might be going through, and it can be hard sometimes to ask for help. It’s important to share our love, support, compassion, caring, kindness, understanding and love however we can. As the holiday season approaches, let’s be more aware of those around us.

“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me,  I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Matthew 25: 35 -36

14 Comments

    1. Kale Gem aka Tanya G.

      I also related to the quoted comment regarding how happiness is about what we give as opposed to what we have from Ben Carson. Thx Coach Marie for finding and sharing these for provoking statements.

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