Spark The Joy of Giving Early and It Will Last a Lifetime #GivingTuesday

This #GivingTuesday and every day post has been brought to you by TheMotherhood (proceeds will be donated to charities)….

I think it’s so easy for people to get caught up in the commercialism of the Holidays that we sometimes forget the true meaning of Christmas. I taught my son at a very early age the importance of giving. Of giving without expecting anything in return.

He knows that we are blessed to have a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and shoes on our feet. He knows that many people in the world do not have these bare necessities that many of us take for granted.

This time of year is especially important to give. He knows that “giving” comes in many forms, and sometimes the gift of time is as, if not more, important, during the holidays. Spending time with someone in a nursing home, who may not have any other relatives visiting is a gift that someone would so cherish.

One way my son and I give back is through his school’s Student Council. They do many things throughout the year to help, aid, and give back to his school and/or community.

Recently, the kids helped to gather non-perishable foods and made food baskets for our annual food drive. The PTO provided the turkeys. These group of 4th and 5th grade students, my son included, worked so hard, with such giving spirits to make these baskets.

Starting this week they will be conducting “Random Acts of Kindness”. My son is joining me in 12 Days of Christmas, as well. This is where for 12 days we do a random act of kindness. My son already plans on sitting next to someone different for lunch at least one day. Someone he really doesn’t know very well, and wants to get to know them better.

He wants to take in some baked goods to the office staff one morning, too.

We’re not sure exactly what we’re doing each day, but we want to pass it forward. To give freely without expectations. To help in our small way. My son did say he wanted to make someone smile, every day.

So as we finished up Black Friday (which I did not participate in), and embark on (tomorrow) Cyber Monday… I hope you will join me in celebrating Giving Tuesday. #Giving Tuesday

About #GivingTuesday…

#GivingTuesday™ inspires personal philanthropy and encourages bigger, better and smarter charitable giving during the holiday season, showing that the world truly gives as good as it gets.

Where did the idea come from? The retail industry has long benefited from seasonal shopping that symbolically kicks off with “Black Friday” – a day that has since inspired “Small Business Saturday” and “Cyber Monday.” #GivingTuesday™, then, serves as a celebratory, fully connected day to kick off the giving season, when many make their holiday and end-of-year charitable gifts.

Check out some ways you and your family can give wisely on #GivingTuesday (and every day).

How about using your #selfie’s to send a message? We call it the #GivingTuesday #unselfie. Use your #unselfie to show how you or others are giving back for #GivingTuesday.

Be sure to Follow #GivingTuesday on Twitter. Watch and share the #GivingTuesday video:

On December 3rd, 2013, I hope to continue to show by example the spirit of giving of my time, my money, when I can, and my heart. I know I’m proud of the giving heart I’m seeing in my son.

How do you give back?

20 Comments

  1. I donate money when I have some to give. Otherwise I give alot of clothes, home items, etc to local organizations that can use them.

  2. I give to charities all year long, but I give to quite a few additional ones during the holidays! We love Toys for Tots!

  3. I need to be better about teaching my kids about giving at this time of year. Random acts of kindness are always awesome.

  4. We give all year long and I try to give extra during the holiday season. I have taught all of my kids that no matter where we are in life there are always in more need and we need to remember them.

  5. I give all year, because I know when the holidays roll around I’ll be too bugged out crazy busy to even think about it.

  6. We really love to give back especially during the holidays.

  7. Such a good lesson for your son and definitely a great holiday to take part in.

  8. We donate to different charities, church, Toys for Tots, Angel Tree.

  9. I love to give to local charities!

  10. I founded a run a nonprofit support organization that covers 2 counties.
    I love the idea of sitting next to someone different every day!

  11. love this concept, we get so caught up in the buying and the hustle and bustle that we sometimes forget about others needs. Thank you for the reminder.

  12. I always tried to reinforce giving instead of getting too and I see my grand children now being taught the same thing so know it was lessons absorbed and learned. I really appreciate St. Jude and what they do for families. Great post.

  13. Thanks for this – it’s such a welcome change from all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday craziness out there right now.

  14. We try to help whenever we can. Over the weekend we donated to the Salvation Army and now two little kids will have a good Christmas. We are not in the best position to help year round, but we do what we can.

  15. I love the entire concept of Giving Tuesday! I am so anxious to begin our yearly holiday giving but the Angel Tree tag tree wasn’t up at the store yet, and our local holiday toy drive doesn’t begin until the end of the week. I’m going to find a way to start tomorrow!

  16. We always donate to St. Jude because of all the help that they have given my nephew. We also donate to our local food bank.

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