Today is the day. More important than Black Friday. More valuable than Cyber Monday. Today is Giving Tuesday!
Over the past week, many of us feasted. Many of us traveled. Many of us bought items at special sale prices.
Today, across this wonderful nation, we have the opportunity to focus our collective attention on contributing… donating… giving. We have the opportunity to make a big difference with even a small gift. We weren’t willing to miss out on deals… now let’s make sure we don’t miss out on donating.
Some will give to organizations. Others will give to ministries. I’d like to suggest that we could even give to individuals. Many will give money, but perhaps you don’t feel like you have any extra money to be able to give. Then why not give of your time and talents?
Each of us can, and should, do something. What if everyone gave to someone today? How different would our world be by midnight? Not sure what you can give? Here are some ideas:
– Offer to babysit for busy parents who just need time to go grocery or Christmas shopping by themselves.
– Rake or mulch leaves for an elderly friend.
– Give a gift card for coffee to a college student to be used as they study for finals.
– Make a donation of simple hygiene products like toothpaste and soap to a local foster care organization.
– Take a meal to a shut-in.
– Pay for the coffee or meal of the person in line behind you at the fast food place you stop at.
– Find out something that a missionary in another country loves but can’t get while they are away from home for years at a time, and send it to them in a care package.
– Give one of the volunteer pastors at your church a gift card to Walmart.
– Give a blanket to someone who is homeless.
There are so many people around us who have needs. I’m not saying we have to match what we spent over the past week. I’m just saying we should give something.
We don’t just have to look up the big, well-known ones online and input our credit card number or text a number to donate $10. We can make a difference in the lives of someone we know or someone whose path we cross today.
You know, we don’t always have to get a receipt for tax purposes. Someone is keeping better records of our generosity than the IRS. God offers a pretty amazing promise in Proverbs 28:27 for those who take this to heart… “Whoever gives to the poor will lack NOTHING.” (Emphasis mine)
I, for one, plan to find a way to give today. As I write this, I don’t know who… or what… or how… I just know that I plan to give. And I hope you will also!
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