Okay, so how many of you signed up for the 29 Gifts Challenge? We're encouraged to blog about our progress. It's a little weird for me to write about what specific "gifts" I've given over the last 9 days...kind of like giving up chocolate for Lent and blurting out at a party, "I gave up chocolate" while you salivate over the dessert table. Anyway, I digress.
This is day 9 of the challenge, and I'm feeling that it is just that - a challenge. It's not as simple to do as one might think. Some things that I've observed from partaking in this challenge:
1). I've realized that I tend to hoard my time and energy instead of giving it freely.
2). I now spend a good portion of the day planning what gift can I give today, and tomorrow, etc. and wondering, "was that considered a gift or can I do more today?" The focus is off of self, and on to whom might be in need of my gift.
3). The challenge has pressed me to give when I most don't feel like giving. For example, at the end of the day, I am dog tired, but my husband's lunch for the next day is yet to be made. So, despite my preference to lie on the couch and veg out, I suck it up and help him make his lunch...and I don't complain.
4). The challenge has encouraged me to pray for discernment, so that I might be more intuitive of whom may be in need of a gift that day.
So this is my progress as of today. And I thought I'd throw in a little tid bit for those of you needing an idea of a gift to give. This week, I did give a gift of education to one of the children in Uganda, the project that Katie so beautifully writes about on her blog. If you've started this 29 gifts journey, it's a very worthy cause to support ;) Happy gift giving!
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2 comments:
Very cool, Courtney. You are naturally so giving that I can't believe this would be such a challenge for you!
Give yourself a lot of grace, don't put too much pressure on yourself to finish the challenge perfectly, or give "perfect" gifts. I know I have learned so much in that area! I love you girl!
I have found the challenge surprisingly, uh, challenging as well. I think it's because as wives and mothers we are already giving, giving, giving all the time we just don't necessarily think of it like that. To try to give more feels exhausting sometimes. Especially if it means taking time or energy away from your family. At least that's what I've felt. It's WAY harder than I thought it would be.
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