I love Christmas. I love the festive decorations and twinkling lights. I love what the season represents and witnessing the giving nature in people flourish during this special time of the year.
It’s so heartwarming to pull into a drive-thru and find out the person before you paid your bill or to go to a restaurant and discover someone paid for your meal.
As I stood in line at the grocery store one day, I spotted a lady digging through her purse while the cashier waited for her to pay. A gentle nudging dropped into my mind that I should pay for her groceries. I did. Her mouth dropped, and tears filled her eyes.
“I have money,” she said. “Why would you do that?”
“To bless you, “ I replied. “Jesus loves you, and if you want to pay me back, then do so by blessing someone else. Merry Christmas.” I smiled, then turned and walked away — my heart filled with love and compassion.
Wouldn’t it be grand if we listened to those inner thoughts and brightened someone’s day or lightened their load? It doesn’t have to be in the form of money. There are many ways to give and your kindness will never be forgotten.
Compliments from strangers are rare but remembered forever.
Let someone with one item move ahead of you and your full basket when out shopping.
Bake a pie or deliver a meal to a shut-in.
Open the door for someone.
Give away a smile…it’s free.
I challenge you to be a giver this Christmas, go above and beyond what anyone would expect of you, and watch God move in your behalf.
Share your story or make additional giving suggestions below in the comments.
Merry Christmas!
Loretta
Love this, Loretta. So kind of you to do this for that lady, and thanks for the nudge to do a good deed this Christmas. Merry Christmas!!! xo
Thank you, Darlene. I love it when the spirit of giving is activated in our hearts.
Since our auto accident last month, God has nudged me to pray for others that come across my path more so than ever. Being in pain and answering that nudge made all the difference in the world not just for that person but for me. We all need that encouragement, not just during this time but at all times. Maybe it is just me, but during the Christmas season we seem to be willing to reach out more as Christians. The one simple thing we tend to forget is the birth of Jesus was the beginning for us to be hearing the nudge of God’s Holy Spirit.
I’m so sorry about your accident and the pain you’re enduring, but I’m grateful that you are safe. You are correct about Christmas seeming to bring out more generosity in us than at other times. It’s because of Jesus giving his life for us/me that I choose to listen for his nudging throughout the year. I’m not perfect and I fail to complete the task at times, but in following through, I find peace, joy, and a sense of well-being in being obedient. Thank you for your comment, Denise.