{"id":15275,"date":"2014-12-23T11:44:50","date_gmt":"2014-12-23T19:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/faithfulwithfinances.com\/?p=15275"},"modified":"2016-04-27T18:12:59","modified_gmt":"2016-04-27T18:12:59","slug":"10-ways-to-practice-generosity-this-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/faithfulwithfinances.com\/im-faithful-blog\/2014\/12\/10-ways-to-practice-generosity-this-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Practice Generosity This Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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1. Write a Hand-Written Letter to a Loved One<\/h4>\n
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How long has it been since you\u2019ve received a hand-written letter? Probably\u00a0a LONG time! Nowadays, a hand-written note means much more to the recipient because you actually took the time<\/em> amidst the busyness of life to sit down and think about what they mean to you. Think about someone in your life that could really use a hand-written note … I\u2019m sure they will love it!<\/div>\n
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2. Volunteer at Church<\/h4>\n
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Does your church do anything special for Christmas? At the very least they probably have a Christmas Eve service. Call or speak with the leadership and ask if there is any way you can help. They will be more than happy to find a place for you, and a helping hand is always needed at this time of year when more people are inclined to go to church and hear about the “reason for the season”!<\/div>\n
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3. Do a Family Toast About Blessings<\/h4>\n
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Our family loves to do this around Thanksgiving, and I have to admit, I look forward to it more than the meal! I love to hear what people are especially thankful for – and what God is doing and has done in their lives. Take a moment to go around the table and talk about one thing you are thankful for\u00a0\u2026 the answers just might surprise you!<\/div>\n
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4. Give Someone Your Undivided Attention<\/h4>\n
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Ever been caught in the middle of a conversation only to realize the person on the other end is totally distracted and isn\u2019t hearing a word you\u2019re saying? Practice the art of listening this Christmas by going out of your way to\u00a0meet that person\u2019s needs and simply hear what they are saying. A lot of times you can pick up on subtle cues and emotional pain simply by looking into their eyes when they talk about something. Be that listening ear when everyone else is distracted.<\/div>\n
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5. Help Prepare a Meal<\/h4>\n
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Maybe you don\u2019t have the funds to create the spread and invite everyone over – but you can definitely lend a helping hand! Get in the kitchen and ask your hostess what you can do to \u201cmake her life easier\u201d. That will be a \u00a0sigh of relief to her, and most hostesses are more than happy to give you an easy (or sometimes difficult!) job.<\/div>\n
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6. Go Caroling<\/h4>\n
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As a family or with your church this can be a very fun, very joyful experience. So what if you\u2019re not the best singer in the world? Have fun with it! You only\u00a0get to celebrate your Savior\u2019s birth this one time of year, so make sure the WORLD can hear that joy!<\/div>\n
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7. Invite a Lonely Friend to Dinner<\/h4>\n
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Many people around this time of year start to feel uncomfortable. They have no spouse or kids to share this season with, and they often feel left-out and may even spend Christmas at a local restaurant. If you know someone in your life that could use a little cheering up, simply invite them to your Christmas celebrations. Who knows \u2026 maybe you are the only person that even thought to invite them to a get-together this year.<\/div>\n
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8. Read the Christmas Story out Loud<\/h4>\n
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One way that my family and I always put things into perspective is by reading the Christmas story BEFORE we open our gifts in the morning. Trust me,\u00a0when I was younger, this was a hard thing to do! But now that I\u2019m\u00a0older, I can\u2019t help but appreciate the tradition. The Bible is this wonderful gift we\u2019ve been given, and Jesus was the greatest gift to all humanity … so\u00a0the reading of this\u00a0present should definitely come first!<\/div>\n
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9. Do a Christmas Craft with Your Kids<\/h4>\n
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As a kid, I can certainly remember some of the great gifts I received,\u00a0but some of my favorite memories are when we did things together as a family … no matter what the activity! Pick out a simple Christmas craft or game to do with your kids\u00a0and they will remember not just the presents, but the great memories that were created. Need ideas? You can always visit Pinterest<\/a>!<\/div>\n
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10. Smile and Say \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d<\/h4>\n
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I\u00a0was in Walmart the other day\u00a0in the checkout line and I remember thinking to myself, \u201cShould I say Merry Christmas?\u201d I\u2019m embarrassed to say that the thought even crossed my mind … but before I knew it \u2026 in a loud voice and with a smile the checker said, \u201cMERRY CHRISTMAS!!\u201d Don\u2019t ever be afraid to spread the message of Christmas. It is a wonderful story to tell. By the joy and smile on your face when you share that with someone, they can, in turn, share that joy with someone else. It\u2019s a special time of the\u00a0year, and we need to remember the joy that we should carry in our hearts as a thanks to our great and awesome Savior.<\/div>\n
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Have any heartfelt\u00a0traditions you do with your family? Give\u00a0us some ideas and leave a comment below!<\/div>\n
Meet the founders<\/a> of Faithful with Finances:\r\nTony Amaradio and his wife Carin.\u00a0<\/em><\/pre>\n
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