The Joy of Anonymous Giving at Christmas

--by kerry.payne, posted Dec 26, 2010

For Christmas, I suggested to my 12 year old son, that instead of trying to think of gifts for family members who dont really need anything for Christmas, maybe we should spend our money on gifts for people who have very little. He really liked the idea.

We decided to give gifts to the K-Mart wishing tree and present our family members with the cards from the tree explaining what we had bought for whom. My son was very excited about anonymously giving gifts and I think the meaning of the season came home to him as we searched K-Mart for gifts that others would appreciate. We got a couple of school bags, and some clothes from the ladies wear section, had them wrapped at the wrapping station in the mall and gave them to the wishing tree.

I believe that actions like this are the best way to teach our children the art of compassion and kindness.

I know that next Christmas we will do the same and maybe extend to other family members/friends that really do not actually need more stuff so they can share the great feeling of anonymous giving.

2407 Reads

Posted by kerry.payne
Dec 26, 2010
Comments (5)

Readers Comments

iferlamb wrote: I really love this! I want to do this so badly. Maybe this year. Thank you for the reminder and for the wonderful story.
smiles...

Aurelia wrote: Really neat. You've taught your son how to be caring and compassion and not only think of himself....Beautiful ...a very special gift ... a lesson he will pass on to his own children...YOUR GRANDKIDS! just think...kindness will go on and on. :) ~Aurelia

unknown wrote: attitudes can be learnt but cannot be really taught (preached I mean). Wonderful job mother :) esp. the anonymity part is the icing ! thanks for sharing, :):) deepula.

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: We love to do that too. Good for you for teaching kindness to those kids! :)

Stories of Kindness from Around the World