This time of year can often feel hectic as we prepare for all of the wonderful family traditions and the celebration of our savior, Jesus Christ. However, I’ve been talking to you a lot lately about the importance of finding the time to focus on gratitude and giving. I do this because I know that it’s easy to get caught up in our own lives and as a result, fail to remember the true spirit of giving. When we give to others with no expectation of gain, we embody the true meaning of Christmas. That’s why in today’s blog, I want to share with you five creative (and simple) ways to make a difference this holiday season. If you have a tradition that helps to bless others, I would love to hear it in the comment section of the blog!
Make a Homeless Blessing Bag
If you’ve never heard of a “blessing bag” until right now, I hope you take this simplistic concept and make if your new yearly tradition! Creating a blessing bag is an easy, yet effective way to give a gift to those who might be in need. It’s really straightforward, you just need a handful of basic necessities and a ziplock bag! Grab an assortment of different toiletries from your local store. This could include soap, tissues, chapstick, etc., and assemble them within individual ziplock bags. Store the bags in your car and hand them out when you see someone in need! You can also add a meal gift certificate into the bag and a warm pair of socks. Here is an example of a blessing bag. Never underestimate the power of compassion!
Use Amazon Smile URL
This is a neat way to give back while doing something as simple as purchasing an item from Amazon. Amazon Smile URL allows you to donate Amazon’s money to your favorite nonprofit organization at no extra cost! All you have to do is visit AmazonSmile and pick a nonprofit that is meaningful to you, purchase your items as you normally would, and Amazon donates .5 percent of the purchase price to the nonprofit! Next time your shopping for that perfect gift on Amazon, don’t forget to use the AmazonSmile link!
Send a Letter to a Solider
As joyous as the holiday season is, we must not forget the many heroes who are deployed and unable to be at home this Christmas. It’s easy to take for granted the special time we get to spend with loved ones this time of year. For deployed military members, the holidays can be especially tough. Why not offer a simple gesture to lift the spirits of those who work so hard to keep us safe? A gracious thank you and Merry Christmas can go a long way for someone who is far away from home. Make it a holiday event with friends and family. You will be teaching your family the wonderful value of gratitude while the kids have a blast decorating their personalized cards! If you are looking for a military member to send a card to, Operation Gratitude has a great program you can check out.
Drive-Thru Surprise
This is one of my favorite ways to incorporate the spirit of giving during the holidays. Mostly because it is so simple! The next time you feel the urge to do something kind for a complete stranger, do what I call, “pay it forward.” Tomorrow when you’re waiting in line for your morning coffee, ask the cashier if you can pay for the person behind you’s order. That’s all you have to do! It’s a simple treat, but it can make someone’s entire day! It’s a thoughtful way to put a smile on a stranger’s face.
Extend Gratitude
You don’t need to extend your gratitude to others with fancy gifts or elegant surprises. Sometimes all you need to do is say, “thank you” and “I appreciate you.” Seriously, try it! The next time your mailman or mailwoman delivers a package to your house, sincerely thank them for the work they do. When you eat out at a restaurant, tell your waiter or waitress how much you appreciate their attentiveness. Stop by your local fire department and shake the hands of the brave men and women who keep your community safe. Giving doesn’t have to have a price tag, oftentimes kindness is what others appreciate the most.
I hope this post helped to put some new ideas in your mind! In the spirit of giving, we are running a special WealthBuilders Legacy Partner Push in order to grow our team of partners! To learn more about what it means to be a legacy partner, click here. If you would like to bless WealthBuilders with a one-time donation, click here.
If you haven’t heard, I am offering a 40% discount on my 2020 WealthBuilders tickets! This offer lasts through the end of the year! Use the code “CHRISTMAS20” at checkout to get your tickets for only $119 each! This sale ends at midnight on December 31st. I really hope you consider coming to this conference…we have an incredible line-up of speakers! To purchase your discounted WealthBuilders tickets today, click here! To learn if this conference is for you, click here.
