Advent (Joy): Of Giving

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”  ~ Rabindranath Tagore

For the past few years, we at UUCG have “adopted” students at a local elementary school and created an angel tree at Christmastime, sponsoring families that are challenged to provide their children with a bountiful Christmas.  This week, this year’s gifts were gathered in the sanctuary to be sorted, transported, and distributed to these families.  The sight of generosity-made-tangible was incredibly heartwarming, and literally brought tears to my eyes.

AngelTree gifts in the sanctuary

I teach my four sons that Christmas is about giving.  I have a very specific definition of who Santa is, and why he does what he does.  From a very early age, my children have understood that the reason that Santa comes and brings presents is so that children all around the world will know the feeling of joy that comes with receiving a gift, and will be inspired, throughout their lives, to provide others with that feeling.  In my home, we know that Santa is eternally “jolly” because of his generous heart, and because all year he lives into his singular purpose of giving to others.

This theme of generosity, of service to others, is not present only in the secular celebration of this season, of course.  The religious celebration of Christmas is about God having given his only son to the Earth. His son, who would eventually give himself for all people’s salvation.

Clearly, this is not merely about material giving. Gadgets and baubles and bling are fun, but the true joy is in giving of yourself.  The “angels” for our local students include not only the people who gave their time and money to select and purchase gifts, but those who gave their time and resources to plan, organize, and carry out all of the logistics of the program (registration, communication, implementation, and delivery).  Acting in service to others can mean so many different things – providing aid to someone in need of your help, a gesture as simple as a smile, refraining from judgement, bringing your most authentic self to any interaction…

And because it doesn’t necessarily take money, everyone can experience the depth of the joy in giving.  All it takes is open eyes, to see a need; and an open heart, to take action to fill it.  And behold, the result is joy.

~ Christiana 

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