Momentum is building as the 30-Day Giving Challenge is well underway! It’s so much fun to look at a new day and a new week and think “How can I give today? Who can I bless?” Here’s how we gave this week.
Day 1 – Donated to an area church turkey dinner and raffle.
Day 2 – Gathered goodies from our stockpile for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. The kids helped sort the treats into two bags (to take to two different churches). They even dug through their Halloween candy and parted with about 1/2 of it! It was a wonderful family activity, and we were thrilled with their willingness to share with less fortunate children.
Day 3 - Baked 5 mini-loaves of Poppy Seed Dessert Bread to give away.
Day 4 – Donated 20 Huggies Enjoy the Ride reward points to KaBoom.
Day 5 – Wrote (as in handwriting on a card that you hold in your hand) a note of encouragement to a friend who is currently in a tough situation. Mailed it with a prayer card. (How long has it been since I’ve handwritten a card and mailed it?! So sad!) Also, had a fall plant delivered to my Mother-in-Law, who was spending her birthday sick in the hospital. 
Day 6 – Delivered cinnamon rolls to two different friends. One just because and one for a new baby/new house gift.
Day 7 – Gave my boy’s baby clothes to my sister to use for my nephew. I’m really hoping to need those back someday, but if I never need them, I’m glad she has them! Also, gave a birthday gift to another nephew.
And just in case I needed a reminder that I can’t out give God…
As we sat down with our trays of food last Sunday at the church dinner, I was happy that we were there and that we gave, but a little down about spending the money to “eat out.” I sometimes have an issue with enjoying a treat without feeling the guilt.
Anyway, as we began to eat they began calling winners for their raffle. The best prize is drawn first, and… you know where this is going, right? Our two-year-old won a hand-made queen-sized quilt! I have no idea what that quilt is worth, but the money we donated for dinner and our raffle tickets pales in comparison. Oh, the humbling!
That’s not all.
On Thursday, when I walked to the post office to mail the card for my friend, I also picked up our mail. In it was a card addressed to my hubby and me. I normally wait the two-block walk to open my mail, but this was a real card from a real person. So I opened it and read it (and cried) on my walk home.
One of my hubby’s freshman football players took the time to write very long (very well written!) thank you notes to both of us! And, there was a gift card involved. So unnecessary. So generous. So making us hope that our tiny school will be here forever and ever.
We canNOT out-give God, people!
Are you taking the 30-Day Giving Challenge? There’s still time. Jump in there and give. You will be blessed!
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Humbling. Inspiring. What a beautiful testament to the joy and rewards of giving! Can’t wait to hear how the rest of your month unfolds.
Girl, this is amazing! I wasn’t sure how to do an update because I didn’t want to seem brag-ish. You did a fabulous job! And you are so right, we can’t ever out-give God. He’s already given us the very best gift of all anyway.
That’s awesome! What a wonderful frame of mind to make a habit of! I’ve been trying to give of myself to others lately in a way I never have. You know, taking time to engage the people we run into everyday, but don’t usually get to know. It’s a discipline, but I’ve been so blessed by it this last week. Keep up the giving- I love reading about it!
That’s a BEAUTIFUL quilt
And just think, the money you gave for the church dinner will be used, I’m sure, to plant countless seeds in other’s lives. I think it’s neat to think that someday in heaven, we will find out how even just a few dollars bore much fruit.
I read this verse this morning “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing” (Prov. 28:27)
It’s so true!!
Isn’t God awesome? I mean, really?
That is a beautiful quilt. What a sweet reminder of the way God cares for us. You will be reminded of His provision every time you see that quilt spread out on a bed, or wrapped around your child. What a great tangible evidence of God’s love.
Wonderful ideas! Thanks for sharing this. Once again, you have inspired me to take action!
P.S. I wish I had been the recipient of the cinnamon rolls!
This is so amazing! What an inspiration to take our eyes off of our own situations for a moment and just give. I have been very stressed out about our budget and some doctor bills and the holidays…ugh. But, I have felt like God has been telling me to give some money away…and you have given me some great ideas.
Thanks!