Giving, with gratitude

 

The season of giving and gratitude is upon us : ) And as you may know, I’ve been feeling grateful lately! (Goals, with gratitude).

I wish we could all think about our gratitude all year round, and not just at Thanksgiving! But I still love that we all have this time to sit with family, bread bread, and give thanks. My grandma always had this picture hanging in her house and I still love it- does anyone else love Norman Rockwell?!

Also, a lot of families have re-created this picture- so searching this online gave me a laugh!

Anyway, I was thinking the other night: at this time of year, when we say our thanks and plan our gifts for Christmas, we are giving a piece of ourselves. Whether it’s offering up a precious and private moment in our day that made us grateful, or giving a sentimental gift to someone you love- a gift you’ve been staring at under the tree and counting down the days to give it, just so you can see their reaction.

The two are intertwined, can we have one without the other? I’m not sure. But I do know that when we appreciate our lives or a simple moment in our days, something that made us smile or think about someone else-then we want to share that with someone.

I got the idea for this post the other night- it was a rough day at work. As a caseworker working with youth, I come across a varying of situations and I am always learning. They teach me things, as well. I met with a particular youth who has been struggling immensely… who I have been advocating for strongly to do well. She’s going through more than I could imagine and it brought up such feelings of gratitude for me: yes, I had a hard day at work, I’m exhausted, I can’t wait to go home. But I have a cozy home to go to after this day, while she does not…my gratefulness for my own life made me want to give and give to her.

I thought about her that night, while sitting in front of my warm fire after a good meal, with my puppies cuddled by my feet. Like- with a simple card dealt differently in life, our roles could be reversed. Just like that. And so I think to truly help others and give all that we can, we really have to remember all that we have.

Thanks for reading. Xoxo