So today is Giving Tuesday.
Let’s see.... we have a day of giving thanks which (for
many) turns into a day of gluttony. Then immediately after being thankful, we
turn straight into greed (all in the good name of saving money and selfishly
buying gifts for others). Then there is Small Business Saturday (which I am fully supportive of). After all those intense shopping days, thank goodness they give us one down day to recover but that day is still filled with scouring the internet trying to find the other things on
your list. Then good ole Cyber Monday where we are back in full swing buying,
buying, buying (selfishly for others of course). So today is the day where we
give to others in need (right after we just emptied our pockets and filled our
homes with things for our loved ones and friends).
Do we think this day might
be due to feeling slightly guilty? I have no idea but I think this is a bit
half a** backwards. Why should the people who have much much less wait around
to get the leftover scraps from our table? These aren't animals, these are
human beings who are made in God's image and deserve to be loved and served
just as much as us!
DISCLAIMER: I am not saying there is anything wrong with
enjoying a great meal with your family or getting great deals of gifts for the
ones you love… NOT. SAYING. THAT. AT. ALL!! I am also not belittling or ignoring all the wonderful things people do for those in need during the holidays. This is just about perspective. All I am saying is we should give
to those who have less the FIRST portions of what we have, not the scraps. Be
humble and give to those you don’t know but who you know needs it more than
you. Once you have done that, then (I feel) you will be able to make your list
with the right perspective and also pick out gifts for your loved ones with
that same mindset. Your loved ones may not get the very first things on their
list (since you gave to others first) but I think this would be a valuable
lesson to all (especially children) that getting gifts is a privilege, not a
right (I sound like my dad).
So I don’t believe it should be Giving Tuesday and
there definitely shouldn’t be Black Friday!! There should be Thanksgiving then
immediately Giving Friday. Continue with the giving theme. Be thankful for what
you have then GIVE to others out of that gratitude and humbleness. Your
holidays may have a completely different tone if it is done this way. (Just my
theory, but worth a shot).
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:31-40)
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