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Mendo Lake Family Life

Holidays with Heart

By Terri Lilga

The holidays are a festive time of year where your senses come alive to the sights, scents, sounds, treats, and hands-on activities that vie for your attention. Families step up from busy to busier with decorating their homes both inside and out, shopping, wrapping, baking, planning, and attending special events. With the hustle and bustle of striving to get your holidays “just right,” the true meaning of why we are celebrating in the first place can get lost. 

The heart of the holidays isn’t found in a colorfully wrapped gift-box or tissue paper-accented gift-bag. It isn’t delivered by an Amazon truck driver. It isn’t a gift that one can exchange or return for a refund. It is something unique in that the more you share it with others, the more it enriches you. And, it’s free … 

The heart of the holidays is found in generosity. Qualities of generosity include kindness, thoughtfulness, selflessness, and being mindful of others. A simple act that can be almost effortless for you, can make a significant impact on another person. As spontaneous as paying for a stranger’s cup of coffee, generosity is given without expectation of reciprocation. 

Children have an innate sense of wanting to help and please. What a wonderful opportunity then, to show them by your everyday actions what generosity looks like. Kids can participate with you in practically all of the ways you choose to be generous. Donating to a food bank? Children can add your donations to the bins. Sending a card to cheer up a neighbor? Include a picture your child has drawn specifically for them. Assembling holiday care packages with church members to help struggling families or community members who are alone? Invite your kids along to help while they learn some organizational and sorting skills in the process. 

Generosity facilitates active and interactive participation among community members, which leads to a stronger community. It generates the power of connection while modeling for others how to give and receive graciously.

The greatest gift we can give to others is ourselves and our time. Be encouraged to think beyond traditional gifts and consider some of these practical, impactful ways to give back to others during this holiday season … and beyond.

Acts of Service — Children can volunteer at a local shelter, food bank, library, or participate in a community cleanup or donation drive. In addition to developing a sense of social responsibility, volunteering teaches children the joy of sharing their time with others.

Sharing Gratitude — Encourage kids to share something they are grateful for each day of the holiday season and to find ways to express their gratitude to the people around them, whether through a conversation at dinner, a handwritten note, or perhaps keeping a daily gratitude calendar.

Spreading Kindness — Create kindness challenges through which kids are encouraged to be kind: Donating toys, giving compliments, or baking treats for local first responders and other workers.

Being given consistent opportunities to practice generosity is an invaluable asset for kids as they grow into adulthood. At the holidays and beyond, every act of generosity helps shape the world in a positive way. 

Terri Lilga held a 30-year career as an elementary school teacher in the same school district from which she graduated. Her first children’s book, Santa’s Simon, was inspired by her desire to write a Christmas book with a unique twist, but mostly to highlight a message of faith, courage, and the transformational power of kindness.