I began making a list the awhile back and just recently began a 1000 days list of 100 things I'd like to do or accomplish in the next 1000 days (that is almost, but not quite, 3 years). Should Jesus return this list will be null and void.
I've been in the season of heart giving recently and that must have been where the idea formed. Then I read this article titled, Hospitality is Heart Space: Take it On the Road, and it solidified that one line item on that 100 things list. Line item 19. The intention of the article I don't believe was giving, per se, but it snuck in anyway.
52 Weeks of Giving in a Row.
No holds barred.
Just intentional, heart-spaced giving.
I began jotting down intentional ideas of giving, some financially related, others serving related, all sacrificially given.
Bags of food for the Lighthouse ministry at church
Give to HIS Radio
Give blood
Care package to a soldier
Pick a charity to give to
Operation Christmas Child
Read a book to the elderly
Sponsor a child through Compassion International
Serve the homeless dinner
Make a meal for family in need
Buy a meal for a homeless person
Pay for the car behind me in the drive thru
Pay for a military families restaurant bill
Buy a movie ticket(s) for the person behind me
Heifer International
Compassion International
Purchase items from places that then turn around and give back
Give to build a well in Zimbabwe (through our church's children ministry
Sponsor a mission trip
Make blessing bags for the homeless
Blankets and coats for the homeless
Adopt a refugee family
Open my home for some southern hospitality
Handmade gifts
Surprise gifts to loved ones
...and so many other ideas.
I'm going to look for opportunities to give financially, give sacrificially, give by serving, give hospitality, give blessings, give compassion, and then...give some more. My One Little Word for 2017 is Nourish (post to come), and my prayer, my action over this coming year, is to nourish a heart of giving.
Similar to my 52 Gratitudes project I hope to document my 52 Weeks of Giving if for no other reason than to see what God has done. Documenting is what I do. It has become apart of me, documenting my life, documenting my heart, recording the important stuff, and simply keeping a record. Putting my heart of giving, my year of giving, down on paper, for me to reflect on how God has used me, how it has changed me, will be in its own way an Ebenezer - stones of remembrance; visual proof, and a reminder, of the work God does in my life through 52 Weeks of Giving.
Just maybe this year long practice of giving will so mold a heart of compassionate, intentional, giving that I become a gifted-giver.