"Season of Giving"

Everyone is always talking about how we should be thankful this time of year, and how it is a time of giving. This manifests itself in the giving of gifts to family members, friends, coworkers, etc. It is fun to actually get to see your loved ones open the gift that you thought about, took the time and money to go out and purchase, and wrapped (or had gift-wrapped!) with care. Ideally they would be excited initially and get enjoyment out of their gift for years to come. Sadly, this does not happen in every case. I know in my experience of giving and receiving Christmas gifts, sometimes the gift is enjoyed for a few months or years, and sometimes the gift is something we don't like, but can't take back, so it sits in a closet for years before someone digs it out and sells it in a yard sale or flea market. I have seen some children clearly show disappointment at a "lame" gift they received, tossing it aside to quickly open the next gift. (and the next, and the next, and the next....) Cringe.

Sometimes we have office parties and are obligated to spend $25 on a gag gift. Really? Spend $25 on something that isn't even supposed to be taken seriously or used at all? Basically, it is 25 bucks spent on a laugh or reaction that is meant to be strictly funny, most of the time in a coarse or inappropriate manner. Do we really do this?? Those gifts oftentimes get thrown in the trash, sold in a yard sale for 50¢, or re-gifted at the next party. It seems slightly pointless and very wasteful. 

I am not claiming to have never done it; I have done it and looking back, I think about how "lame" and wasteful that was. Yikes. 

You may think I am being overly dramatic about the whole thing, but that depends on who you ask, I guess. 

I was recently reading a blog of a friend of mine, and she posted something about some catalog where you can give gifts to people in need. It sounded interesting and it is the same organization that does Operation Christmas Child: Samaritan's Purse. I got on the site and checked it out and it is a way to "shop" for people across the world. The gifts aren't things like iPads and board games and Webkins (or whatever they are called). The items listed are things like goats for a families that have nothing, farming supplies to impoverished people, water wells for clean, filtered drinking water, blankets, food, and medical supplies, etc. There are so many different options. You can donate anything from $6 for a blanket to $10,000 for building a school in a location that desperately needs one. There is even an option to donate baby chicks to a family so that family can have fresh eggs for eating and selling in the market. You can spend $25 for an entire set of clothing and shoes for a child who has none instead of spending it on an inflatable wreath. (Seriously, you can buy those for twenty bucks. Why?) 

Check it out. You can give easily online. Here is the link: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/gift_catalog/?&utm_source=GiftCatalog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gc12

Merry Christmas. Tell your co-workers sorry for not getting them tooting slippers. (Also real. Also $25.00. Wow.)

{You can even donate livestock, like donkeys! This isn't from the Samaritan's Purse website or anything, and has no affiliation to their organization that I know of. This picture was taken on a medical mission trip to Honduras I went on a few years ago. I am just using it for an illustration. People need these types of animals for carrying heavy loads where trucks aren't affordable for the people or the terrain doesn't allow for vehicle passage.}