Gifts of Character::Helpfulness & Giving Thanks - SALE

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Christmas is approaching and at the Prais house it was always an occasion marked by excess. There was no end to the piles of presents and the outpouring of love, not to mention the mountains of food and copious amounts to drink. We were very blessed indeed.

But a few years ago, we decided that we had enough. It was starting to be too contrived. There was no love in the buying of things or in making a list that would always include the same Bath & Body Works products {anything in the Japanese Cherry Blossom. Buy me any other flavor and it will go right back} or socks {black, for him with the reinforced toe}.

I love to give gifts. Thoughtful gifts that make me think fully about the person that I am gifting. But I would rather do it on a random Tuesday than to follow a prescribed gifting schedule that this time of the year demands. And I would rather not be bombarded by this demand as early as the middle of October {thank you very much Fleet Farm Toy Catalog.}

Helpfulness is doing useful things for others - things that make a difference to them, no matter how small.

So a few years back the adults {there are 6 of us} decided that the day after Thanksgiving we would do a little giving of our own. We took the money that we would have spent on each other {usually $100 per family} and purchased SCRIP {fundraising program through our local Catholic Schools where you buy a gift certificate for local or national companies and the schools keep a percentage. Doesn't cost any more and I help the schools buying what I would normally} for a local grocery store. Then we gather the kids and three shopping carts. We have the recommended shopping list for the local food pantry called Operation Bootstrap. And we shop. we make it a competition to see which family can get the closest to the $100 without going over. We almost always have to go back and get more even when it seems our cart can't hold another can of pork and beans, another box of crackers or one more jar of peanut butter.

It is taking the time to be thoughtful, reflecting on what people truly need and assisting them respectfully.

I like that we started this tradition. It takes the guess work out of shopping for each other, encourages our children to recognize their plenty and celebrates the true meaning of the holiday season for me. The chance to help those who need it most. And today the need is more great than ever.

I have all I need. But if I can to do this small thing to affect the lives of another family then I am all for being helpful in this way.

We help others by doing things they cannot do for themselves.

We also support the coat drive that our local community holds. I always have a few pairs of Lands' End boots, a snuggly warm {if decidedly grimy} coat {that the local cleaners launders for free}, and the odd assortment of hats, gloves and snow pants. We give those away, too. Or the drive at Rocket's school for the Pajama Project where they get donations of new with tags pajamas and books that are then donated to kids in homeless shelters {we did that for Tiny Dancer's 8th birthday in lieu of presents}. Or this year when I donated my entire proceeds from the month of January to the Haitian earthquake relief, and Tiny Dancer asked for craft supplies for the group Haiti by Hand {we donated a huge shipping box filled with yarn, embroidery floss, fabric, and eyeglasses}. When the Children's Museum needed assistance putting up walls and cleaning up their newly renovated space, Rocket was there to help...he hung drywall and hauled materials for an afternoon. A great way to give back to a place where we used to spend some quality time when he was younger.

But it doesn't always have to be a grandiose gesture. What are some little things that you can do to help those in need?

It takes courage to ask for help when we need it.

Recently, we have been voting online in several contests that will garner much needed funds for our schools. It only takes a minute and the payoff can be huge. Would you like to help? My local alma mater, Pacelli High School, is one of four area high schools that is in the running for a $30,000 technology grant courtesy of Cellcom's Project Innovate. It doesn't matter where you are or even if you are connected to my high school, but if you are interested in helping with the vote, I would appreciate it. If you are willing to help, you can do so by clicking on this link and navigating to the lower right hand corner, clicking on "Project Innovate" and then voting for PACELLI HIGH SCHOOL. {Currently, we are in 2nd place so your vote will really help... hurry...it ends on November 30th!} And thank you very much if you do!

There is always plenty of help when we are willing to ask.

Over the summer I was voting every day for the Beads of Courage on the Pepsi Refresh project. And I click on the Breast Cancer Site's link every weekday to help fund mammograms for those who need it {and while you are there, don't forget to click for hunger, literacy, rainforest, child health and animal rescue}. recently, Tiny Dancer and I discovered Free Rice where you can play some educational games {like knowing famous works of art, or your times tables} and earn rice for those who are starving. Such a simple thing to do, but so helpful.

When we work selflessly to benefit the lives of others, we always bless our own.

There are a million ways to help. Don't get overwhelmed and think that you have to do it all. Remember that you can't do everything but you can do something. Select the something that you can do and do it with great love and you will get incredible results.

The Practice of Helpfulness

I look for little ways to make life easier for others.
I do a service without being asked.
I offer my support in respectful ways.
I give people what they need, not always what they want.
I allow others to be helpful to me.
I strive to be a blessing to others.

What ways do you help others? Do you organize a food drive? Ring the Salvation Army bell? Put a roof on a Habitat for Humanity home? Or just open a door for someone carrying a heavy load? Let someone with only two items cut in front of you in line at the check out? Or pay for the coffee of the next person in line?
What are some simple and instant ways that you know of to help others?
Do you allow others to be helpful to you?
How has your life been blessed by helping those in need?

Do tell!

To share my thanks with all of you, for being faithful readers and commenters, for your support and encouragement, for celebrating all that I have, I am offering a special discount in my newly stocked Etsy shop {more coming!}. Use the code GIVINGTHANKS2010 when you check out to enjoy 20% off anything in my Etsy shop, expires 11/30/10.

I give thanks for you!

Enjoy the day!