Give Back Friday: Run to Help

Holidays in 2010 have created a new sense of awareness in me.  The very best gifts to be given or received are not at the malls…you possess them right now.

It started in May, as a “Mother’s Day” post directed at the mother of my adopted children was on  my heart.   Her state of life in the aftermath of giving up her children continued to haunt me.  Expressing words that I will never have the opportunity to speak to her personally in the medium of a blog, I released the grace and forgiveness that I feel God had given to me…for her.

What I found most interesting about that entire experience in May 2010 was the response I received from that post.  To my surprise, that post pricked the heart of American women, who had made an adoption plan for their babies as a result of a teenage pregnancy.  As adults, many married with other children, these women’s past decisions continued to effect them.  In God’s providence, He used my barely adequate words to speak to their hearts.  I was completely surprised, overwhelmed and humbled.

Little did I realize how much pain holidays can bring for people.

Fast forward to December, 2010.  With all that life can throw at us, and considering what our family is facing personally at this time, I’ve struggled to ‘get into the Christmas spirit’, to say the least.  There are times in life when the daily just cannot be pushed aside because there’s a holiday to be celebrated.

However, in the last few days, I’ve been renewed in my spirit, in a similar way to my experience in May.

People are hurting this holiday season, due to loneliness, unemployment and divorce.  Discouragement and hopelessness surround so many on a daily basis.  There are big questions with few answers.

Yet, in all of our human frailty, a child was born for us, in equally humiliating circumstances.

What would you do if you heard of a baby being born outside, in the cold, like Jesus was, without clothes or any of the basic needs a child needs?  You would run to help, gathering up anything you had to offer.  For me this Christmas season, therein lies the true meaning of the holiday.  Run to help others.

How many people do you hear about in any given week who are hurting?

* Families who are facing the ravaging effects of disease.

*Families facing unemployment and serious financial problems, like the loss of a home.

*Special needs kids who feel the pain of not being accepted more than ever during the holidays.

You might feel as though you don’t have anything to give or offer someone, especially if you find yourself in the pit yourself, but think again.

*You can invite a lonely person over for coffee or go visit them.

*Invite a special needs child over to play with your kids.

*Call someone who feels the abandonment of others.

*Read to someone or teach someone how to read.

It is nothing short of a privilege to be shown an opportunity to minister to someone who is hurting.  I am being trusted with that information about another and tested to see how I’ll respond.  I hope to pass the test.

How about you?  What opportunities have you been shown to help others this holiday season?

Here’s a few links that I found to be beneficial:

How to Sell Unwanted Gift Cards

Five Tips for Coping with Unemployement During the Holidays

12 Recession Proof Gifts

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