How much have you got?

The holiday frenzy has begun, shopping, special events, and the vast array of seasonal foods we enjoy with family and friends. The kickoff day starts with Thanksgiving, and the feasts begin. Not only does the turkey get stuffed, some of us do too. So much so, not only is the meal planned, but our attire for eating the meal is planned. I’m not talking about the ugly Christmas sweater, but the Thanksgiving elastic waist pants. Remember the Sansabelts from the 70s? Some of you guys know what I’m talking about, but knowing that you may overindulge a bit, you plan for the occasion, pants included. You wear something that’s got some give in it, elastic has lots of give and it allows for expansion.

I’ll ask my lead question again, “How much give have you got?,” but this time I don’t want you to think about an expanding waistline, think about expanding your give. The word give can be used as a noun or a verb. When used as a noun it means to have the capacity to bend or alter in shape. Do you have the capacity to give, and to do it differently than you’ve done it in the past to help someone in need?

We all should work on our capacity to give no matter how much give we think we’ve got. Increasing your give requires the un-factor. That means undoing old thinking patterns, unleashing your creativity, and unselfishly giving. I’ve seen the homeless on the street with no money with the capacity to smile or say hello despite their circumstances. Or the recovering cancer patient delivering meals to the needy or thinking about the next race she’ll organize to raise money for cancer treatments for others. Now that’s having incredible give. When you can look beyond your present circumstances and situation, however, grim and give of yourself, you’ve just expanded your give. Expanding your give takes focus, determination, and unselfishness. Don’t limit your giving to just certain times of the year, or give monetary gifts alone. Giving monetarily is a good thing, but giving of yourself is even greater and you can give 365 days-a-year.

At CAAGKC we’re all about moving people from insufficiency to sufficiency, and teaching someone a new skill could possibly put them on the pathway to increasing their income. Have you ever thought about teaching someone a new skill?

I’m challenging you to expand your thinking on how you can give. Here’s my short list of ways in which we can give, and it may not even cost you a dime:

• Volunteer at a nonprofit
• Shovel the sidewalk of an elderly person
• Tutor or read to someone
• Share a meal or a smile, they both can be fulfilling
• Adopt a child or a family

That’s my short list, you probably can think of several other ideas on how to grow your give. I’d like to hear them. And lastly, don’t forget to for-give, yourself, as well as others.

Best regards,

Clifton Campbell
Executive Director & CEO