Here it is a few short days before Thanksgiving. Like many, I love Thanksgiving and Christmas! I find myself spending time reminiscing on holidays past, while feeling the excitement of this year’s holidays coming. We have many family traditions that have routed deeper into our customs as the years have past. A couple of years ago, we started a new tradition and it’s completely about giving to strangers throughout the holiday season.
A couple of years ago, I read an article in Success Magazine www.success.com. It was about giving joyfully and giving generously. It was an amazing article that challenged my current philosophy on giving, which I had always felt was already above the standard of most. Yet the stories made me want to search for more ways to give that were out of the norm.
One of the very first sounds of the holiday season beginning is the ringing bell. You know, the man or lady standing outside a store ringing a bell to draw your attention to their red kettle which collects donations for the Salvation Army. For years, we’ve put money into the kettles and accepted the bell ringer’s gratitude and wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. But it wasn’t until a couple of years ago; we switched our focus from the kettle to the bell ringer. Why you might ask? A large portion of these individuals are below poverty level and might even have been homeless. http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/16037/bell_ringers_the_salvation_armys_lowest_paid_most_needed_employees For many, ringing a bell is a welcome opportunity for a new beginning. These hard working men and women stand in the elements of the weather whether it’s bitter temperatures, rain or snow. They stand there ringing doing the job they’ve been hired to do. One day, I looked at these individuals more as a person with a story and probably a real need for the bell ringing job. This was the birth of caring for the bell ringers!
Assorted snacks and bottled water take up residence in my truck during the holidays. These items are for the bell ringers. The hard working folks who are often cold and have very tired bodies and aching feet from standing so long. It’s a small, simple gesture, that speaks volumes to the recipients. And so was born a new tradition in our family.
I challenge you this Thanksgiving to do this; give THANKS as is the tradition of the season but also find a way to add GIVING to others. Imagine a Thanksgiving where everyone has THANKS and GIVING!
Wishing you and yours a very blessed holiday season filled with love, laughter and intentional giving,
Novice_Trader_Cindy
A couple of years ago, I read an article in Success Magazine www.success.com. It was about giving joyfully and giving generously. It was an amazing article that challenged my current philosophy on giving, which I had always felt was already above the standard of most. Yet the stories made me want to search for more ways to give that were out of the norm.
One of the very first sounds of the holiday season beginning is the ringing bell. You know, the man or lady standing outside a store ringing a bell to draw your attention to their red kettle which collects donations for the Salvation Army. For years, we’ve put money into the kettles and accepted the bell ringer’s gratitude and wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. But it wasn’t until a couple of years ago; we switched our focus from the kettle to the bell ringer. Why you might ask? A large portion of these individuals are below poverty level and might even have been homeless. http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/16037/bell_ringers_the_salvation_armys_lowest_paid_most_needed_employees For many, ringing a bell is a welcome opportunity for a new beginning. These hard working men and women stand in the elements of the weather whether it’s bitter temperatures, rain or snow. They stand there ringing doing the job they’ve been hired to do. One day, I looked at these individuals more as a person with a story and probably a real need for the bell ringing job. This was the birth of caring for the bell ringers!
Assorted snacks and bottled water take up residence in my truck during the holidays. These items are for the bell ringers. The hard working folks who are often cold and have very tired bodies and aching feet from standing so long. It’s a small, simple gesture, that speaks volumes to the recipients. And so was born a new tradition in our family.
I challenge you this Thanksgiving to do this; give THANKS as is the tradition of the season but also find a way to add GIVING to others. Imagine a Thanksgiving where everyone has THANKS and GIVING!
Wishing you and yours a very blessed holiday season filled with love, laughter and intentional giving,
Novice_Trader_Cindy
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