Is it better to give than receive?

Chocolate and Christmas. What a great combo. Chocolate was not, to be fair, a key part of the first Christmas story. Historians think chocolate may have been invented around that time, but in Central America. It would have melted in the middle eastern climate of Bethlehem, even if first-century Romans had the foresight to invent it.

Last week my family thought about chocolate differently. We were in our church while a local charity worker told us about their team of women who befriend vulnerable women in Sheffield. They provide care, positive lifestyle advice, ongoing friendship, and daily necessities.

We were invited to fill a gift-bag – the size of bag that many of us will be given as we purchase our presents over the next week – and fill it with loving, practical gifts for one of these ladies. Chocolate, toiletries, beauty products, keepsakes: small items that show worth for an individual, that show of love in a practical way.

I was brought-up short as she told us the story of one of the ladies they reach out to, who was delighted at the idea of receiving a bag.

“Oh, that will mean I get 2 presents this Christmas.”

Sitting next to my 11 year old son this was very sobering for both of us. He has already sent me his present wish-list on Whatsapp. We looked at each other, and decided we’d fill two bags.

It’s not always easy to motivate children to give to unknown people. To his credit, my son dug deep and was more generous than I was expecting. We took him to a shop and he hunted for shampoo, he bought two nail varnishes and topped it off with what he thought she’d like, a bag of Haribos! Last Sunday as a family we proudly added our bags to a dozen or more which others had brought to church to be collected.

In the bible, Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is true, but it requires effort from us and sometimes we need the shock of hearing other’s situations to wake us up to being thankful for our own. This Christmas, may we cultivate a generosity of heart that puts the needs and feelings of others above our own, even for a while?

I will try to remember that when I get passed a box of chocolates on Christmas afternoon!

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash