It’s Better to Give Than to Receive

Christmas time is fast approaching. The lights are up, the stockings are hung and the tree is decorated. The Christmas season is one of giving and receiving gifts with family and friends. However, I believe that the best gift that you can get is one that does not directly benefit you.

Years ago, my mother came up with a new tradition for our family. For Christmas, everyone was asked what their favorite charity was. As a gift, she gave a donation to those charities in our name. It made Christmas much easier, as we did not have to mull over what to get the members of our family, and it also made Christmas more fulfilling. In our warm house, with plenty of food, comfort and family, we donated to each other’s charities. It encapsulated the Spirit of Christmas more than simple gifts. My donation was to Feed My Starving Children, a charity that has been close to my heart for many years.

I would challenge you to consider giving in someone’s name this year. Instead of exchanging tacky ties or candles, perhaps talk to your family about what is close to their heart. I cannot remember the last physical gift I was given, but I remember every single donation to the charity that I chose. You will find that as you work on serving and giving to others, you will be more grateful for all that you have.

The Psychology Behind Giving

There are many studies in the field of psychology that show that gratitude, giving, volunteering, and serving lower anxiety and help with depression. Wood and colleagues in 2007 found that “overall gratitude seems to directly foster social support, and to protect people from stress and depression, which has implications for clinical interventions.” Gratitude for what we have and for the situations we live in can lead to lower levels of anxiety and better coping with depression.

Inanother study, Brittany Wright found that participating in an altruism or altruistic activities could lead to better coping with depression, and more positive feelings overall.

What Can You Give This Christmas?

One of the most joyful acts that you can participate in is serving others. Do you know someone who does not have much family in the area, or who is going through a difficult time? Invite them over for the holidays. Serve in a soup kitchen, or pack meals at Feed My Starving Children. Donate items to a clothing or food drive. As a family, pick another family to bless; this can be as simple as providing a meal for the holiday season.

I encourage you in this wonderful Christmas season to give to others, just as God gave to us. Giving to someone less fortunate will bless you, as well as bless them. Altruism gets us out of the comfort of ourselves, and helps us recognize all that we have been blessed with. We are created to serve and love one another. That is why we receive so much joy when we serve.

Encourage the whole family to serve! Do you have a neighbor who may have difficulty shoveling the snow in their driveway? How about a friend that needs to be picked up from the airport at an extremely early hour? Ask yourself who you know that you could serve this Christmas.

God calls us to give generously, and what better time than Christmas. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”