Inspiring Generosity

11/6/2019

Give Thanks. No Really, Give Thanks.

This is a thing.

This morning I woke to this momentous news: Pringles now has a “Friendsgiving Feast Turducken Kit.” Did you even know that you wanted, yea, needed turkey, duck, chicken, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie-flavored potato chips this Thanksgiving? I didn’t either!

But friends, I’m happy Pringles’ focus is on Thanksgiving and not on Christmas (yet). Now that Halloween is out of the way, Christmas is flooding the market. What will Pringles roll out in December? Chips flavored like eggnog? Ham? Green beans? Peppermint? Or the one I’m personally hoping for…Brussel sprouts?

Back to Thanksgiving. One of the things people like about Thanksgiving (in addition to the aforementioned Pringles) is the lack of commercialism surrounding the holiday. In fact, the name tells you right off the bat what you are supposed to do: Give Thanks.

There are many ways to give thanks to people in your congregation or organization who have been generous with their time, talent, and treasure:

1. Write a physical note (yep, in your handwriting, using a real stamp).

2. Pick up the phone and leave a surprise message of gratitude.

3. Send a gratitude text (I can vouch for this one – I got the nicest one last night…and I’m still smiling).

4. Bake cookies and pass them around.

5. Pay it forward and let the person who inspired you know what you did.

6. Send an email with the subject line: Thank You.

You are only limited by your imagination – and your intention.

All these examples of gratitude take some planning. You have to look up an email or physical address, find a phone number, bake something, buy some stationery and stamps, or do something nice for a stranger. Take a few minutes now and plan out your Thanks-Giving strategy. Do it. It’s worth the effort.

Here’s your personal bonus: What’s so wonderful about taking a moment to say “thanks” is that you’ll get a boost of serotonin. And serotonin contributes to your happiness. That’s science. Because you say “thank you” – you’ll give someone else a boost of serotonin as well. It’s a win-win. More to be thankful about!

So friends, I suggest you run out and purchase a case of Pringles’ “Friendsgiving Feast Turducken Kit” to give you the energy you’ll need for all the thanks you’ll be spreading around. And (as a public service announcement), if you’re worried about warring relatives at your Thanksgiving feast, see how Adele (in this classic Saturday Night Live sketch) can make it all better.

Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. Over the past fifteen years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she helped raise over three million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. As she’s giving thanks, she’s thinking, “Mmmmm…Brussel sprout-flavored Pringles.” Her position with the Conference is funded through a generous grant from the Collins Foundation. She is available to consult with churches. You can reach her at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/inspiringgenerosity or at CesieScheuermann.com.

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Cesie Delve Scheuermann

Cesie Delve Scheuermann is consultant in grant writing and stewardship/development working with the Conference. From 2008-12 she was the Conference Lay Leader for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.