Happy March!

It's March  and I can officially feel spring around the corner! We may still have gray days, and here in central Kentucky we may even have some snow headed our way, but being able to say ' it's March!'  just feels right. Part of that is probably because my precious hubby's birthday is this month he has brainwashed me for years saying, "March is the best month" constantly.  Like, in my sleep.

This month on the blog I'll be exploring giving. Giving in the traditional sense in giving to our families, our church and  our communities. Also, though, I think about giving up, giving in, giving away, and giving more. There are so many ways that our lives are full of giving.



What does it mean to give? In a society that puts a lot of emphasis on getting I find it really hard to keep it simple. Television, magazines, the internet is chock full of images that make me want more instead of less. Heck, I can barely drop stuff off at Goodwill without coming home with more.  I will say there are a lot of blogs out there on living with less that I really love and that inspire me to thin out my belongings.

I'm working on giving away the things that I don't need. Two weeks ago I walked into my boys' room and thought, "I cannot deal with this anymore." I go in there twice a week and clean it with them. It's just too much stuff for them to take care of. So we put everything that wasn't a Lego in bins and put it all in the basement. They're finding it much easier to care for the room, now. (I know, Dad, there are still Legos everywhere.  :) We're baby stepping.)

Normally I have no problem giving stuff away. I like the rule that if I bring a new thing into the house something must go out. Occasionally it's hard for me to let go of things, though, and later this week I'll share more about that.

I also thinking about giving in, which is not the same as giving up. Giving up means walking away from something,  while giving in means accepting your situation and altering course. I've been working on that one, giving in. It does me no good to lament where I am because this is where I am.

 

In March, in the season of Lent, I also think about all that has been given for me. The sacrifices my parents have made (hello 6 extra people and 2 extra dogs, oh and don't forget the cat) to allow us to start over. In the middle of this (crazy) election year I think of all that was given for my right to vote. Of course I think about Jesus and all that he gave for me, for you, for the world.  All that makes me want to give more, and I'm exploring some ways to do that.



Much to think about when it comes to giving. I'm curious - what comes to mind when you think of giving? Where does the theme of giving seem to be focused in your life right now?