Christmas Gift Guide 1: Sweet Charity

I have been asked by a lot of readers to do a Christmas Gift Guide. I live to serve, and am working on marvelous and inspiring ideas for everyone on your list, but I wanted to first offer all of you an alternative.
Now let me start by saying that I LOVE a thoughtful gift or gesture. There are few things that can joy the heart like receiving a really perfect gift. So if you have some of those in mind, carry on people, carry on.

However, if you DO find yourself at a loss this year I would encourage you to take a slightly different path and consider giving to one of these organizations in your friends and family members names. These three causes are near and dear to my heart. I have posted on Puppies Behind Bars before, and was deeply moved by the work of Nicholas Kristof and The Girl Effect when I saw them featured on Oprah the other day. The Advent Conspiracy is something I have been involved with since last Christmas when I first learned of this organization and the cause it supports, Living Water International. Please take some time to check out each link/video below.

Living Water International

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU[/youtube]

The Girl Effect

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIvmE4_KMNw[/youtube]

Puppies Behind Bars

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqE63pN8_c[/youtube]

If this sounds a little impersonal or like a copout for a traditional gift, why don’t you consider pairing your donation with a personal note to the recepient about WHY you chose to give them this gift. Tell them the ways in which they have enriched your life and made you grow, about how they have blessed you, and that you wanted to pass that love on.

I promise you, this is all anyone could ever want at this, or any time of year.