Thanks and giving

Tis the season for Thanksgiving.  Sure, I mean the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, yummy veggies and delicious baked goods.  A table finely set with good china, linens and candles.  A warm room filled with family and loved ones.  And this year, as in years past, I know we'll sit around such a table with such a feast spread before us and one-by-one we'll give thanks.

We seem to have no shortage of things to be thankful for.  I know friends that take the month of November and try to list something everyday that they are thankful for.  I know people that have a thanks and praise journal of sorts and every day they write what they are thankful for to keep as a reminder.  I am using November for just a purpose myself, taking the time to write it down each day so that I can see it right in front of me.  It also will be a good lesson that when days are long and challenging, there should always be at least one thing we can find to give thanks. 

I am trying to look at this in a broader sense this year, of both thanks AND giving.  So in addition to thinking of what I am thankful for this season, I am also getting the girls involved in giving.  Giving back, giving where we can, just giving!  Yesterday I donated the $0.44 in change I got back at the store to the literacy campaign the store was sponsoring.  Today the girls and I each took in a canned food item to their school for the food drive.  We are working on tomorrow's project already to color and draw pictures to mail to a dear friend recovering from knee surgery (if you read this now, just act surprised when you get it!).  I am hoping by getting the girls involved in my plans, we'll be able to talk about the things we are blessed with and how we can use our blessings to help others.

I also challenge you to be in the giving spirit as well.   I don't believe it has to take tremendous amounts of money or time to accomplish this, sometimes just a simple act of smiling at someone in the store and stopping to say 'hello' may mean the world to that person on that particular day.  Take a meal to a shut in.  Help an elderly neighbor rake leaves or clean out their gutters.  Donate a food item to a food drive.  Buy a toy for a "Toys for Tots" program.  Send homemade cards to a military person serving our country.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen.  However you are moved to give, please do it.  Get others involved as well be it in your family, church, or neighborhood. 

I hope I can find the time to be able to give for all 30 days of November as well as writing down my points of thanks.  If not, I know at the end I'll be so thankful for the days I was able to do just that little extra for someone else.  I'll know that I've worked to show my girls how important it is and to be thankful that we have so much to give.