There is so much more to "giving."

During the holiday season many of us do a lot more "giving." We make donations, volunteer to serve Thanksgiving dinner at a homeless shelter, bake cookies for friends and family, and find so many other opportunities to give of ourselves. Where did we learn to do this? Most of us learned through our friends and family. Yet, years ago the whole community was involved. It used to be expected that you would contribute not just to your family but to the community at large.

I recently saw a Hallmark Channel movie that featured a Santa Clause who had a different perspective. Instead of just asking the children what they wanted for Christmas (shouldn't Santa know that already?) he asked the children what they would like to give. He opened the children's eye to what gifts they had that could be shared; no money or shopping necessary. 

Our students spend 13 years in public (or private) education hearing only about what they may "get" from it. You need to do well in grade school to "get" into high school. Do well in high school and you can "get" into a good college, "get" scholarship money and grants, and so on. Earn a college degree so you can "get" a good job so you can "get" stuff. I believe it would greatly strengthen the education system, and our society, if we focused more on what students can "give."

Some simple gifts a child can give to a loved one include helping with dinner or household chores, a Free Hug coupon, singing a song or presenting a dance routine. Some gifts our students can give to the school community include peer tutoring, helping to clean up around the school, starting a flower garden, making gifts for those who are less fortunate, and fundraising. Some gifts our students can give to the community are joining a service organization like the 4H Club or the national scouting organizations, volunteering at a local hospital, picking up trash on the side of the road, or helping a neighbor with yard work or babysitting.

Our students have so much to offer and yet without the example being set for them it never occurs to many that they should be expected to give and not just to receive. I know many of you would agree there is often much more joy in giving than in receiving. One of my students is so excited that he was able to buy gifts for his family for the first time this season. He is spending money that he earned through hard work. He says that he is so anxious to give the gifts he is having a difficult time waiting until Christmas! This young man has learned the joy of giving.

The well-known psychologist, Erich Fromm, wrote:

“Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving, I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, hence as joyous. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness.”

  

I found a number of Websites that list opportunities and resources for young people. Here are a few of them.

•        Fastweb.com
•        Teenlife.com
•        Volunteermatch.org

As we move into the New Year, perhaps we can keep these things in mind and look for opportunities for our students to give of themselves and to share their gifts and talents with others so that they might experience this joy.

Thank you for listening.