Compassionate Christmas
I know, it’s still only September, but the countdown to Christmas is on. Blogging-mamas have started sharing their plans, shopping mamas have started eyeing off Christmas displays, and crafty mamas have started creating gifts. Personally I love Christmas and I love gift giving. But when it comes to gift getting? I have enough stuff. Really I do.
I don’t know when I got so grown up. I look around now and realise I am a thirty-ish mum with two kids, a house full of furniture and trinkets and bits, a mortgage and two cars. My cupboards are full to overflowing. There is more junk squirreled away under beds and on top of wardrobes than I know what to do with. And every Christmas, I get more stuff.
Is this ringing any bells with you? If so, I’d love to encourage you to think outside the square when people ask you what you want for Christmas this year. Instead of more clutter you don’t need, what about letting someone else get the benefit of your “present”. And instead of racking your brains for the perfect gift for someone who has everything, why not give something that will make a real difference?
I love Gifts of Compassion. For $11 you can give a family a mosquito net that will help protect them from deadly malaria. For $29 you can supply a child with the resources they need to attend school. Heck for $41 you can buy a goat! Do you have any idea what a huge gift that is for a family? A goat can produce milk and have baby-goats (yes, I do know that baby-goats are kids but that’s too confusing in the context of the next sentence! LOL) Baby-goats can be sold, milked, or eaten. They are such an asset to a poverty stricken family.
Interested? You can buy Gifts of Compassion here. There are heaps to choose from so you should be able to find a gift in your price range. Don’t give more stuff to people who don’t need it. Give something that means something.
PS – and if you really want to make a difference in the world, sponsor a child like I do 
This is beautiful Cath.
We’ve both given and received these awesome charitable gifts from a variety of charities. I love that I cam give my friend who is a teacher ‘books and pencils so a child can go to school’ and my chook mad friend ‘five chickens for a family’…. so I can still personalise too!
I received a goat from my Mum and Dad last year.
I also try to shop at Oxfam to buy little stocking fillers and things as another way of making a difference.
Christie
These charitable gifts are great aren’t they – I often use them. I like that you can personalise them, but aren’t giving stuff that people don’t need.
They meke the most special gifts ever.
A well timed post – before all the Christmas sales! I definitely know I have too much stuff.
Yes they are a lovely idea – especially for those who have everything. It is great to involve your kids in the purchase too – explain to them how much a goat or mosquito net can mean to someone who has nothing. It might make them happy with a smaller pile from Santa too.
I agree! We’ve done this too and I love it when others buy me a gift that helps someone else more needy than myself.
You are an AWESOME advocate for Compassion!!!
You go girl!!
I buy those sorts of gifts for family and friends through Oxfam
YAY! I love the idea of giving a gift that blesses TWO people
[...] blogged about gifts of Compassion a couple of months ago but I’m more than happy to mention them again because they are a [...]