Season of Giving

We are officially snowed in, perhaps for several days. It's the kind of snow that makes for great holiday cards - all swirls and mounds and ice. Beautiful but deadly - I'm staying in until I can see the street again.

So today was a snowy day to hang out with daughter, talk about ACT scores and college visits. There was plenty of time to make decadent chocolate cookies, drag out the christmas decorations and watch "Gilmore Girls" until our eyes fell out of our heads. I have a major caffeine buzz, my head hurts with thinking so hard (she's way smarter than me) and my sides ache from laughing. A perfect day.

I spent the last few days collecting gifts for some area children. This kind of activity both inspires me and disgusts me. I'm inspired because of the spirit and resiliency of children who are surviving amazing situations. It disgusts me that so many of us give so terribly.

There is something wrong with our culture which can spend more on electronic gadgets for their music than they can for children without parents. I'm especially touched by those who profess some sort of faith but show up with used clothing and broken toys which no one would want. Sometimes I think this season of giving is more about cleaning out closets and salving our conscious than about giving to others. The sentiment seems to be, "Jesus loves you, now here's a torn t-shirt to wear. I was just going to throw it out anyway."

Giving is the quality that forces us to look out ourselves and see what we trust, what we value and who we are. And sometimes, what I see when I look closely is how much I have to learn about giving. I hope this upcoming year I can learn how to really give.