Wow! What a year it’s been.
As we enter the last days of the year, many of us are painfully aware of one thing. Things often don’t turn out as well as you hoped; and where 2020 is concerned, that is a massive understatement. Do you remember that 2020 was going to be the year for “We Gathering”? What a stark contradiction we had; “We Gathering” and social distancing. Talk about polar opposites.
Back in September, we spoke about entering the new normal, and how proud the Lifetime team is of you, the public in general, and more specifically, our members. We are incredibly pleased to see how well we were able to cope with the restrictions. Covid-19 restricted our movements, and virtually every other aspect of our lives took a hit because of it. For one thing, we got to see just how vital our social interactions are to a healthy lifestyle. We are a social species, and we rely on our interactions, to learn, to earn and consequently to survive. As a result, many of us suffered because of the steps we took to mitigate the spread of the virus. Sadly, some of us are still suffering.
We all have a personal perspective of how this pandemic has affected us. And as rough as it was, you may still know of someone in your community or workplace or school that is a little worse off than you are. We want to encourage every one of you to spare a thought for your neighbour; not necessarily your physical neighbour, but your biblical neighbour.
During this Christmas season, take a moment to consider how the pandemic may be affecting an acquaintance, a friend or a family member. Take the time to think about what good you can do; take the time to think about what you can give. It doesn’t have to be money. The spirit of giving does not have as many rules as you might first think, and the spectrum that makes up “a thing of value” is almost infinite. It could be a ride to the supermarket for a single parent in the community; a donation of some books you read as a teenager to a niece or chatting on the phone for 15 minutes with an elder that doesn’t get out and about as much as they used to.
Giving is one of the most natural things one person can do for another. It is often spontaneous and weightless; holding the door open for the person behind you is practically a reflex action for many of us. Have you ever noticed that when you let someone out in traffic that they usually do the same thing for someone else the first chance they get? It’s contagious. Not only is giving natural; its reward goes both ways. The receiver is grateful for the kindness, and the giver is happy to have helped. And even though you may not feel it eight seconds after an act of kindness, just like your savings account, it’s cumulative. And on top of that, it improves your mood.
This Christmas season, give a little. Your mood will thank you for it.
Merry Christmas, and nothing but the very best for 2021!
