5 Stress-Free Ways of Giving to Others

You don’t have to empty your bank account in order to give to others. And you don’t have to spend hours in a community center or a nursing home to offer your services. I say this because it’s easy to use limited funds and limited time as an excuse for not reaching out to others. Here are five simple things, with lasting results, that you can do to give unto others:

Smiling
How often has your day been brightened with a smile? A smile has the power to transform a dull mood and uplift down-trodden spirits. Additionally, a smile seems to always produce more smiles. So, give the gift of a genuine smile today.

Sharing Your Wardrobe
God has blessed you with clothes and shoes over the years—and He still does. That means there’s a collection of clothes and shoes in the back of your closet which no longer fit or you no longer wear. Donate those to a Church, Salvation Army, or Goodwill.

Writing a letter
Sending an electronic message or making a call, are all great ways to encourage someone. But sending a letter is a sweet gesture that has the potential to leave a lasting impression on the receiver. In these days, checking the mail has become a depressing ordeal, since the majority of the letters are bills and advertisements. So, you can imagine why a personal, handwritten letter of encouragement in a sea of generic mail, is a treat greatly appreciated.

Being a Sitter/Chauffeur
Offer to watch your neighbor’s kids or their pets while they go shopping or run errands. Not only that, but if they will be traveling for an extended period of time, you can offer to house sit or check their mailbox. Plus, you can chauffeur a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment, the train station, or the airport.

Cooking Extra
You have to eat, right? So, cook extra when you’re preparing your meals. Then choose to bring lunch for your office mates, or share dinner with your neighbor. You can also prepare a meal for a bereaved person, or make pastries and bring them to a shelter or share with the homeless.

“For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11)

What’s your excuse for not giving today?