We’ve taken a few years off from our A Season of Giving series, but I decided that this year was a great time to revisit it, especially since we have so many new readers who might not be familiar with it.
If you’re like me, you struggle to find a balance between the festive trimmings of the season and the deeper meaning of Christmas, which has very little to do with flocked trees and beautifully staged homes. I believe that there’s room for both, but I do need a reminder to take a step back every so often and really concentrate on what’s important–preparing my heart.
While Amy and I are both unapologetic Christians and like to combine these acts of kindness with our families’ advent preparations, I believe these suggestions can be easily adapted if you practice another faith; in fact, we would love for you to join us!
Here’s how it works: we use the calendar below as a jumping-off point and try to do at least one small kindness a day for others throughout the month of December. I’ll share a daily post on Facebook at 12 noon EST with additional details, so please make sure you’re following us there and have your notifications turned on (click here to visit our Facebook page). To be sure you don’t miss anything, you can also make sure that you’re following us and have it set so you see our posts first in your news feed.
I realize that we’re all at different ages and stages of life, and you’ll notice that this calendar is geared towards families with children at home. I’ll be sure to mention how each day’s giving suggestion can be modified for a variety of life stages (and financial ability) when I post on Facebook, and of course we’d love for you to comment with your own ideas.
If you want to print the calendar out, just click on it to open as a PDF and print (I recommend a scale of 95%):
Please don’t feel like you have to do all of these things or do them in order–if you’re Type A like I am, sometimes you need to hear that! The point is more to meaningfully incorporate giving and focusing on others in small ways throughout the month, and then hopefully carry that through into 2020 and beyond.
Photo credit: The Giving Manger
Also, below I’m sharing a selection of devotions and other items that are advent-focused; if you have young children I highly recommend The Giving Manger. If you’d rather view them in our Amazon store, you can visit it here. And if you have any recommendations to add, I welcome your comments.
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Christy, this is just wonderful. Thank you so much for this. I’m pinning this post and I’ll be recommending the series to many people. I appreciate the hearts behind this effort SO MUCH!!
Thanks so much, Richella. We’d love to have lots of friends join us for the series! Christy
Hey Christy – love what I read because I strive to ‘being a blessing’ to others not just this time of year but everyday! I’m always baking for our fire/police/Public Works departments, and have been told they don’t get the goodies one would think they do! I love the look on anyone’s face who receives a baked pie or cake from me, and I am beaming inside as well. All of this is really doable – just think of others and how to be that blessing in making their day……….smile, encouragement, support whatever it takes! We’re off to a great holiday start, and THANK YOU!!
Good for you, Julie! It’s easy enough to incorporate giving into our daily (year round) lives, but we have to be intentional about it until it becomes an ingrained habit. It sounds like you have accomplished that and I have no doubt that your recipients are thrilled to receive your goodies. I’m glad you’ll be following the series, my friend!
XO, Christy