Tomorrow many of us will be sitting down to an annual feast known as Thanksgiving. We’ve talked about the importance of being grateful for all that we have, even when we don’t have everything we want or think we deserve. Being grateful should be a way of life. But today I want to change it up a bit and give recognition to the givers of the world. That hopefully includes all of us. We are givers of our time, our talent and our treasure. We give our love, our patience, our understanding to family, friends and even strangers. We give support to those in need, hugs just because and kisses to a special few.
In a twenty-four hour period, try calculating how much giving you do. You might be amazed. We often think that giving has to be money or gifts purchased. It covers so much more ground. It can be very small and seemingly insignificant but still have a ripple effect that goes beyond your imagination. You have probably read about how a small kind gesture can change the recipient’s day in big ways. It can turn an otherwise “grumpy” person into someone reflective and willing to “pay forward” the kindness done to them.
When my sister was a young girl, she came home from school one day in tears because a girl in her class was being mean to her. Our father told her that she probably didn’t know what was going on in that girl’s life, and perhaps she should try paying her a compliment in lieu of retaliation or inaction. The end result? My sister followed his advice and the two girls became fast friends! This approach may not always work, but when it does, miracles occur!
Another example of my father’s wisdom. As a teenage girl filled with drama and age appropriate angst, I told my father that I needed to “find myself”. (This was very popular in the sixties.) His reply, “If you want to ‘find yourself’, the best way to do that is to be of service to others.” He was right, of course. When you give to others, no matter what it is you are giving, both parties are winners. Giving has a recurring component to it. The giver also receives – bonus!
Unexpected giving is even more special. Try doing something for your partner that you normally wouldn’t do. “It’s their job,” you rationalize. Maybe so. But what if you were to do it just one time, to help lessen their load? My husband always took out the trash cans on Tuesday night for the Wednesday pickup. It’s the man’s job, right? This is not a quickly accomplished chore. We have a long driveway and two large and often very heavy trash cans. One Tuesday while he was at work, I did it for him. He was very appreciative. One less thing he had to do after driving home 1 1/2 hours in traffic.
Thank the givers in your life, and not just the obvious ones. Think of someone in the grocery line who lets you go in front of them. The driver on the freeway who lets you in when you want to merge. Your dog (or horse!) when they give you kisses. And then you wake up every morning to another day of life. Thank the biggest giver of them all, God.
Happy Thanksgiving! :))