When Giving Really is Better than Receiving (& a special giveaway)

heartgiftIn today’s Proverbs 31 devotion I talked about adjusting our holiday focus to be more about Jesus and less on gifts, shopping, social outings, decorating, wrapping, or maybe the time spent trying to figure out how to avoid all of that!

Focusing on Christ instead of chaos at Christmas is certainly something we all benefit from.  And one great way to do that is to put our focus on being a giver, instead of a receiver.

But I’m not going to lie. I love getting gifts. It’s a girl’s prerogative, right? Smiles.

But I actually do enjoy giving gifts even more than receiving. I love when someone unwraps a special present that I’ve spent hours shopping for and am able to see the appreciation and love on their face – especially when it comes to my children. It just makes me happy to make them happy.

So if giving physical gifts to others can make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, how much more fulfilling would it be when we give the gift of ourselves?  In fact, when so many people are struggling financially due to the state of our economy and unemployment rates, the gift of ourselves might be the only thing we can afford to give. Yet – that gift is more priceless than anything bought at the store.

So I want to challenge you to shift your focus from the normal holiday flurry of shopping to give gifts, and see how much joy, happiness and love you can spread in the next week without spending a dime.  Consider how your presence can be someone’s present.

The quality of our holidays is not determined by what is wrapped underneath our tree or what presents we receive, but the gifts in our hearts that we choose to share with others.

If we choose to focus on spreading joy, sharing love, and experiencing happiness and fun in all that we do, those very special gifts can make someone’s holiday so much better – maybe even our own.

Luke 6:38 says “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”  Although we certainly don’t give gifts in order to receive, what a blessing to know that God rewards His faithful servants. When our hearts are overflowing with the desire to be Jesus to others, the joy of giving will always be better than any physical gift we receive, because the best gifts come from the heart – ours and God’s.

Leave a comment answering the below question and you’ll be entered to win a free set of my holiday conference calls which kick off next week –  but most importantly, the idea you share might be something someone will act upon and impact a life in more ways than one.  And that is what the holidays are all about.

How might you give away a special gift from the heart this year to someone in your family, workplace or sphere of influence? 

 

**If you are financially strapped this year and could use some great ideas for budget friendly gifts and ideas, and you want to stay more focused on what really matters, consider signing up for my Managing Holiday Stress Conference Call series which kicks off Monday, November 25th.

Click here for more details, or click here to purchase. 

8 Comments

  1. Lisa Townes on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 9:08 am

    This year I am going to make my Mom a special book with verses for every situation. Although we grew up going to church, we did not memorize scripture. A good friend of mine made me a book with my close friends favorite scriptures to carry on a trip to India this past summer. It was one of the most precious gifts I have ever received. My mom saw it and loved it, I want her to have scripture at her fingertips for every situation.



  2. Evalyn Elliott on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 9:29 am

    I think giving of yourself can be a very good way to show senior adults love and respect. In my case, this is what I will do for my mother in law this year. I have been unemployed for almost 6 months and going through marital separation as well. Mother in law had a stroke in July and has had a hard time giving up her independence. The most difficult thing I can do is spending time with her due to the discord in her life; yet this is what she craves more than anything. I plan on making “time coupons” in a little photo album for her to cash in throughout the year. This would be for a lunch out, a trip to Target for shopping, or just time to sit with her and listen.



  3. Angela Hinson on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 10:19 am

    This year–I am going to give my family the peace we all deserve. I will be the one sitting back and keeping my mouth shut—even if I don’t like what is being said. This last year and a half has been hard, but God has cured my husband. I hope next year to pay it forward and do something for people that are battling cancer too.



  4. Amber M on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 11:16 am

    The gift of time is always the best 🙂 sometimes its the simple offer to take someone’s kids off their hands or pick up their groceries while I’m already at the store. It saves them the trip or opens up their schedule and its a win-win-win because their kids and mine love the extra time with friends.



  5. Kristy on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    Spending quality time with family and diverting the focus away from gifts.



  6. Mandy on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 4:34 pm

    I want to make a situationBible verse book for my nephews who are all struggling with drug and alcohol addiction



  7. Susan on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    I love this devotional! I can really relate to the joy of giving gifts and seeing the receiver’s face. I try to make little mental notes during the year of comments people make that inspire the perfect gift. But in light of the recent tornado damage to Kokomo, IN last Sunday, I especially love the challenge to consider how your presence can be someone’s present! In answer to the question, my gift will be to volunteer my time to help others when I see a need.



  8. Kay Youngman on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 8:07 pm

    Spending time with family & friends is a special gift



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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