The Meaning of Giving - like Joy Jars (The Jessie Rees Foundation)
Have you ever known anyone going through a difficult time? Have you ever been through a difficult time? The last thing we want to do when we are going through a difficult time is think of others. Sometimes when we are hurting, we don’t think we have anything valuable to offer and we just want to have self-pity.
However, when we give to others, it nourishes us. Giving has a positive impact on our emotional well-being and even greater than that, when we are struggling helping and blessing, someone else can be a very powerful way to find joy and peace in a storm.
Today’s Wellness Wednesday teaches us about one family’s journey through difficulty, pain and giving back. We hope you find peace today and are inspired by Jessie Rees and her family.
Try this:
As a class, group or family watch the following video about one’s girl’s journey of tragedy and hope. She faced a difficult time and found joy in helping others:
Jessie's Story - How it All Started! (6:49)
How can you help others?
Use a piece of paper and a writing utensil;
- Think about some messages you can send to someone going through a difficult time.
- Write a short message to someone going through a difficult time.
- Now consider how you will ‘deliver’ this message, maybe you will simply say the message out loud, maybe you will mail or deliver the message in person or maybe you will send your messages to a hospital, school or to a local children’s charity.
Ask yourself, there is no wrong answer:
How do you feel after completing a kind message for someone else? Have you ever received an act of kindness? How did it feel?
Connecting Our Faith
Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. – 1 Peter 4:11
Further Learning
Family Book: The Power of Half: One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back by Hannah and Kevin Salwen
Employees of LDCSB checkout WorkLifeHealth from EAP Provider Morneau Sheppell
We welcome your feedback, click here