Giving

Amidst the play dates and vacations over the summer, one of my favorite activities with our children centered around giving. Instead of being consumed with having fun this summer, we decided that we wanted to be intentional, incorporating ideas like "random acts of kindness" and "pay it forward." So, we decided that the theme of our summer would be GIVING--from writing cards, leaving quarters in gum ball machines, attaching dollars to treats in the dollar store to buying groceries and making meals, the kids tried to think outside themselves. Just a couple days ago, we met a woman at the store and as we left, the children said they wanted to buy her a Starbucks gift card. I was touched, but what really blew me away is that they insisted that they use their own money! DON'T GET ME WRONG, our lives are filled with classic meltdowns, drama, selfishness; and truth be told, these little giving adventures involved fighting and even tears!! Oh, yes indeed. These are all small steps, but my prayer is that these small steps over time become an active mindset to see the needs that are everywhere. Ann Voskamp, in The Broken Way, says that "if your living isn't about giving, you're already dying." My hope is that these little seeds of giving will enable our kids to know that the HEARTBEAT OF LIVING IS GIVING.
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Now, LET'S BE REAL, whenever we read posts like this, our natural human tendency is to feel inadequate, do a heavy sigh, eye-roll, want to gag, etc. I know this because I've been there. But, I'm writing this post with the sincerest desire that we live with intention and the mindset of giving. Big or small steps, it all counts! How can you incorporate intentional acts of giving and kindness into your life?
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