If you are connected to my face book page, you have read my
posts encouraging everyone to give this Christmas season to the many needs and
worthwhile causes and allow God to bless someone else through you. After my latest post, I received an email
from one of my dear friends, stating that she wanted to be a blessing but was
living on very limited finances and did I have any ideas of ways she could
still bless others. I accepted the
challenge and began to think of ways to give to others with zero dollars.
Here are a few ideas and I’m sure my readers have many they
could add to the list. First think of
things that come natural to you, things you have mastered and things you enjoy
doing; these are your talents and are meant to be shared instead of buried. Then, allow your mind to come up with
creative ways to use all of those talents to bless a friend. Maybe you have a love for children, offer to
babysit for a couple of hours while a young mother finishes her Christmas
shopping or a deserving couple enjoys a date night. Perhaps a friend is recovering from an illness;
provide a more comfortable setting for recovery by offering to clean their
house or wash their laundry. Do you know
a shut-in that would just love to have a visit?
Your gift is your attention as you sit and listen to them talk for a few
hours. Offer to help someone organize
old photographs, take a couple of brightly wrapped shoe boxes and note cards as
dividers and you will be amazed at the blessing you both received by a day of
reminiscing and storytelling.
Are you a great cook?
Offer your services as “Chef for a Day.” Your friend supplies the ingredients and you
cook their gourmet dinner. Offer to bake
Christmas cookies for a working mom, she can supply the necessary items and you
supply the know how and energy; what a blessing to her whole family, that Mom
can swing by your house on her way home from work and surprise everyone with
fresh homemade Christmas goodies. Have a
group of friends over for coffee and recipe sharing; each person makes their
favorite recipe and brings it to share along with printed copies of the recipe.
Does everyone rave about your beautifully wrapped packages,
your professionally decorated tree or nostalgic fireplace mantle arrangement? It may come easy to you but some of us are
challenged in this area. Suggest to
someone that you will come over and teach them the “Art of Gift Wrapping” or
help them decorate their tree or mantle.
Even better, look at all of the ornaments and decorations you have
collected over the years and no longer use, take them to a friend who may not
be having such a merry Christmas and help her decorate and brighten up her
life.
You may say, I no longer have patience with children, my
cooking skills begin with a can opener and end with a microwave, I have no
imagination and could use a decorator for my own house; what about PRAYER?
Be somebody’s Prayer Partner. There is no greater blessing than knowing you
have a friend who is praying for you.
Send a card or an email with an encouraging message. Receiving a surprise message of encouragement
will brighten someone’s day and may help change a situation. Yesterday, a sweet friend posted on my wall
that she “loved me dearly.” I
went through the rest of my day humming a tune and on top of the world. It doesn’t take too much of your time but it
could make a difference to someone who is struggling with life.
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