I’ll admit it.  I tend to go a little overboard with giving at Christmastime.  There’s the shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse, the toy store at my church, the gift baskets for families that my church also does, the Toys for Tots drives, the angel trees, the food drives and my personal favorite – Good Samaritan gift cards.

That last one is something I started doing last year.  I don’t even remember where I got the idea actually, but I think I read about it somewhere.  The idea is that you keep several gift cards on hand and then throughout the season, whenever you feel moved to, you give them to total strangers.

I bought three Target gift cards and three Harris Teeter gift cards, put them in cute little Christmas-y gift card holders, and kept a couple in my purse and the rest in my glove box.  Then I gave them out as I felt led to.  The first one went to a cashier at the local grocery store who made my smoothie for me.  She was so pleasant, so helpful and just radiated joy.  I knew she deserved one.  The last one went to a homeless woman on the side of the road that I didn’t come upon until March when I was visiting my tiny house build in Raleigh.

It was such a small gesture on my part.  Just a simple little $10 or $20 gift card.  But to the person on the receiving end, it could turn a bad day around or even be what they needed to buy themselves dinner or a warm pair of gloves.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  But as crowds of people fight and push each other down for the latest electronic gadget, remember that there are people who would be excited to just get a coat or a pair of shoes.  As you gather around your Christmas dinner table or celebrate at your holiday gatherings, remember there are people who are starving and don’t have food to eat.  And remember as you fleetingly add random items to your online “wish lists,” there are people whose only wish is to have a home.

This Christmas, look for opportunities to give to others that are struggling.  Step out of your comfort zone and look past the bright lights, decorations and store windows to see those that could use a helping hand.

It’ll be the best gift you’ve ever given… or received.

“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” – 1 Timothy 6:18-19