Advent Conspiracy – Give More – Week 3
What do you give a 13-year old teenager who seemingly has everything? How about a generous heart? At least that was the plan hatched by one north Dallas mom for her soon to be 13-year old teenaged daughter.
Meet Kristy Hayworth, mom to Gracie a bubbly, athletic, One Direction stricken 13-year old! With Gracie’s 13th birthday party approaching, Kristy wrestled with the whole gift giving norm in an already affluent north Dallas community. Could this birthday celebration be different? Could it provide an opportunity to be counter cultural, yes, even a booster shot for a growing spiritual disease some are dubbing “affluenza”.
Allfuenza [affluent + epidemic] is a term referring to a spiritual virus that is spreading and affecting people within our society, especially children and teenagers. It’s symptoms are materialism and the unquenched quest for more.
Lewis Lapham in his book Money And Class In America says that,
“Money is often seen among Americans as the commodity which opens the doors to feelings and experiences. It has become for many the stuff that often allows people to choose to play at being their own gods, where they can do just about anything they wish. And yet the really sad thing is that as we now have so much stuff, our lives have often been overtaken by paying for, maintaining and caring for all these possessions…rather than people.”
So within this cultural conundrum Kristy unveiled her plan to help Gracie and her friends to learn a key life truth, that it is better to give than to receive.
The Apostle Paul said as much as he taught and modeled this to the early church.
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 NLT
So at Gracie’s recent birthday party, Kristy and Gracie agreed that instead of each party goer bringing a gift for Gracie, that everyone would bring a gift card that would then be donated to some charity or non-profit. With Kristy being part of Loving Community, many of these gift cards are being donated to the teachers on their birthdays at Durham Middle School in Lewisville where Kristy volunteers. Pretty cool, huh?
Kristy is getting it right! She is leading her family and helping instill a generous spirit in Gracie, who if you know her, is growing in her godliness and exemplifying generosity in many areas of her life. And these are the very words and example that the Apostle Paul encouraged and shared with his young student Timothy:
“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-18 NLT
During this season of gift giving where often time the focus can be merely on the “presents” that are given, why not give yourself and your loved ones the gift of the “presence” of Jesus as you practice the truth that it truly is better to give than receive!
Loving Community offers lots of fun and creative ways to give to the needs of those we minister to in the southern Lewisville and Denton county area. You can learn more about these opportunities by following the link: https://loving-community.net/donation/
Be blessed!
Kristy & Gracie Hayworth are residents of Coppell, TX. Kristy is a dental hygienist and Gracie is an 7th grader at Coppell Middle School North. Both are involved in volunteering through their church Valley Ranch Baptist. Kristy as well volunteers through Loving Community.
