Generosity is Contagious! 12 Days of Christmas Cheer: #ARichChristmas Day 4

Jim Carrey brought The Grinch to life in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Since it’s release in 2000, it quickly became one of my favorite Christmas movies.

Jim Carrey as The Grinch - courtesy of Universal Pictures

Jim Carrey as The Grinch – courtesy of Universal Pictures

Do you remember this scene?

“‘Maybe Christmas’, he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.’

And what happened then, well, in Whoville they say,

That the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day”

Dr. Seuss’ literary genius is on full display.

After stealing all of the presents and decorations in hopes to wreck Christmas and keep it from coming, the Grinch hears the sound of the Who’s singing down in Whoville. He ‘puzzled til his puzzler was sore’ and realized that there was more to Christmas than meets the eye.

Have you wondered the same?

I learned something similar this year from someone I work with and I wanted to share the story because it embodies the true spirit of Christmas better than anything I have seen in quite some time.

A Small Decision to Give

One of the awesome ladies that I have the pleasure of working with – whom we’ll call Stacey – made a decision back in September to take $5 out of each paycheck until Christmas.

The hope was that $20 would go to help a family in need through the S.H.A.R.E Organization; a local non-profit here in Eastern North Carolina focusing on the concept of “paying it forward” to those in need.

You can visit their Facebook page here

You know the funny thing about generosity?

It’s contagious!

A couple of the other ladies in the office were encouraged by this action, so they decided to join in. Pretty soon, there were 5 others on board.

As December rolled around, Stacey came to me and said that they had raised $100!

Stacey was so excited and wanted to share it with the other agents in the office, to see if they would collectively match the gift.

I told her to tell her story because it’s power would be encouraging.

Nothing speaks greater to the condition of one’s soul than their willingness to give.

It has nothing to do with dollar amounts or even dollars, but simply the concept to consider others and how you might invest in them.

Remember what I said earlier?

Generosity is contagious!

When Stacey told her story a few of the agents stepped up and matched the gift!

Her simple decision to save $5 turned into a Christmas gift of $500! I am blessed to work with an amazing group of people…

Generosity is contagious

Generosity is contagious

As the Grinch realized so maybe should we,

When one is generous, it becomes two, then three…

So this Christmas, let us think, of those far and near

Who could use our generous gift, the gift Christmas Cheer!

Do you have any stories of generosity?

MH

6 Responses to Generosity is Contagious! 12 Days of Christmas Cheer: #ARichChristmas Day 4

  1. Mary Grey Sheneman Ham December 17, 2013 at 10:32 am #

    My ladies group at church, my sweet Bells, collected blankets and mirrors for the NICU last week ~ 33 blankets and 35 mirrors ~ warmed my heart to support that special place after the wonderful care they gave the twins! Tonight we are giving a baby shower at church for a single mom expecting again in January! Praying it will somehow make a difference in the lives of the children!

    And Cindy Lou Who said “Santa, what IS the meaning of Christmas?”

    • Matt Ham December 17, 2013 at 10:44 am #

      Little Cindy Lou was wise beyond her years!

  2. Misty Scott December 17, 2013 at 10:34 am #

    I can remember as a child in elementary school, probably about 9 or 10, when a few police officers showed up at my school. I, along with about 4 or 5 other children, was called to the office to go with the police officers. We were taken to a department store and told to pick out a coat, an outfit (maybe two), and a toy. I cannot remember much about that day, other than the fact that I felt so special. And so excited to get a new coat. I picked out a puffy pink & gray coat.
    Now, the past few years, at least since I have had children of my own, I have always given to Toys for Tots. This year however, I wanted to do more. My One Word this year was “Invest” and I tried taking it to heart. About 2 weeks ago I received an e-mail from a friend of mine who is a counselor for a local elementary school and she asked if I knew anyone who would be willing to sponsor some middle/high school children for Christmas. I jumped at it!! I wanted to invest in others like those policemen had done for me 25 years ago. I was sent a family with one child from elem, middle & high school. Now, taking on 3 children is a challenge so I asked my boss (I won’t call out any names, but he he is the writer of this blog!!) if he’d be willing to sponsor along with me. And, of course, he said yes. We were going to invest and make a difference!!
    My Husband asked as we were wrapping the gifts if I thought it was weird that a while family needed to be sponsored. I just said “No” and kept wrapping. I didn’t realize that others would think that because I had been there before and knew what a difference someone could make. However, his heart changed when he took the gifts to the counselor yesterday and she was so happy and told him what a difference we woudl make in these children’s Christmas this year!

    • Matt Ham December 17, 2013 at 10:47 am #

      Misty – how awesome that you’re returning the investment! I never knew that story until now, but it makes me smile to read it!

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