It’s that time of year again: tinsel on the trees, lights on the houses, and delightful music playing everywhere you turn. It’s also that time of year to make lists – and check them twice – for every family member and friend you want to share gifts with. And sometimes, it can be overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you begin your gift-giving quest? This is where generosity comes into play.

But how does generosity work?

Now, I conducted a small poll on Twitter, asking how people immediately defined generosity. The majority of voters defined generosity as either “giving of your time” or “giving in general” (the latter getting the most votes). But, interestingly enough, nobody voted “tangible gift-giving.” While material possessions are not important in the grand scheme of things – especially as we journey Heavenward – they do count as part of being generous.

Let’s start our discussion of generosity by talking about the heart of generosity first, then delving into ways we can give.

First and foremost, the heart of generosity is giving of yourself.

No matter how you choose to give, it must come from your own decision to give, hand-in-hand with the effort to follow through with that decision to the best of your ability. We all have specific talents and gifts, and we can use those to help others. In turn, the use of those talents and gifts can be a gift to others, whether those talents and gifts involve speaking kind words, being there to listen, or creating or buying something that someone will be absolutely thrilled about.

Whatever way you choose, all of the ways involve you keeping someone else in mind, and placing their interests above your own. Being selfless in this way allows you to be generous and be cheerful about it.

So, how can we give?

We can give with our time

Giving with our time is the easiest way to help someone, and it’s often the most impactful gift of all. And it’s not limited to a holiday season, either; we can spend time with people in times of joy, times of sadness, times of strife and trial, and so much more.

The majority of the time, Jesus gave His time to others as opposed to offering monetary or other tangible gifts. He spent time with people who others often didn’t want to spend time with, like Samaritans (John 4:1-42), tax collectors (Matthew 9:10; Matthew 10:3; Luke 5:27; Luke 19:1-10), and even children when it seemed like they were in the way (Matthew 19:13-15). He gave them the gift of His physical presence, and as such, we should follow His example and do the same for others we know.

We can give tangible gifts

That being said, we can give gifts that are physical as well. Though physical and monetary possessions won’t last, we shouldn’t discount them as gifts or discount their impact. Because we give of ourselves, we can give physical or monetary things because they can benefit someone else. Beyond giving gifts to family and friends during holidays, we can give in order to benefit works of the church, missionaries, communities and churches who have experienced disaster, and the like. Again, if it benefits someone else, it counts as giving of yourself.

Consider the wise men who visited Jesus after his birth in Matthew 2. They gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. To give such things to a tiny baby boy – when they could have easily used those items themselves – was selfless on their part. They also worshipped Him genuinely. While Jesus couldn’t use those items at the time He received them, the effort they went to give gifts to Him was not unnoticed; hence, their gifts were recognized in Scripture itself.

Finally, no matter how we choose to give, we should give cheerfully.

Scripture urges us to be cheerful givers: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). If we give begrudgingly or with complaint, the effort that we go into giving will be in vain, just because of the fact that we’re not valuing the other person, but rather our own wants.

Think of the various times Jesus gave: the five loaves and two fish for the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21), and the seven loaves and the few fish for the four thousand (Matthew 15:32-39). Even when the Disciples were in disbelief that the small amounts of food would actually feed several thousand at a time and feed them well, Jesus still gave anyway, without complaint. He just gave. Regardless of how we give, we should simply cheerfully give what we have – tangible or otherwise – and it will benefit someone all the same.

No matter the season, giving of ourselves can be a powerful, impactful thing. All we have to do – no matter how we choose to give – is to give cheerfully and with the recipient in mind. And in this way, when we bless others, we in turn will be blessed by the joy that comes from giving and putting others before ourselves.

By Savannah Cottrell