The 29 Day Giving Challenge is working.

If you are tuning in for the first time, you'll need some background.  Members of the House of Shine are reading a book together and engaging in an accompanying activity.  It's not too late to jump in.  As a matter of fact, I have had quite a few phone calls from around the country informing me that our 29 Day Giving Challenge has motivated people to get the book and join in. 

Yesterday I caught myself red-handed.

At 1:30 p.m.  I was sitting at my kitchen table, replying to emails, and thinking through the rest of the day.  It occurred to me, I was more than half way through my day and I had not consciously given my Day Five gift yet.  I am sure somewhere earlier in the day I did something nice that could have constituted a "gift," but I already consider myself somewhat generous so I am really challenging myself to give consciously and in ways that don't come as naturally.

I reflected on the morning and wondered if I missed opportunities to give.  I had and suddenly my missed opportunity became glaringly obvious. 

I have a teenage son and honestly there are days when I would love to trade him in for - oh, I don't know - a lifetime's worth of laundry.  Richard and I work hard at teaching Ricky manners, etiquette, responsibility, character, a good work ethic, and trust me the list goes on.  Monday morning Ricky cruised downstairs at 7:15 and asked Richard (who is in the shower) if he could drive him to swim practice.  Richard replies "no" and suggests he calls grandma and grandpa (who conveniently live across the street) to see if might be willing.

Editorial comment.  Teaching Ricky organization has been a full time job in our house over the past ten or eleven years.  We frown upon Ricky imposing his lack of organization on everyone around him, by creating important and urgent situations where everyone must drop what they are doing in order to pick up his pieces.

I was drying my hair thinking through the exchange and becoming more frustrated as time went on. We spent four hours with grandma and grandpa the night before and returned home where we spent another two or three hours before going to sleep.  WHY would he think it is ok to ask for a ride minutes before he expects to hop in the car?  And, while we are at it, why did we have no idea about the sudden change in his schedule?

I turned my dryer off and walked into the kitchen to tell Ricky that it was not ok to call grandma and grandpa for a ride and that if he wanted a ride, he should have arranged it with us the night before.  School is less than two miles away, so I told him to ride his bicycle.

Phew. I was heard and it felt great making my point.

But, taking Ricky to school should have been my Gift #5.

I should have slipped on my tennis shoes, hopped in the car, and had the grace to give him a ride - even though there was no forethought on his part.  Being right, being a nag, and teaching him a lesson might make me technically correct, but I dare say that giving all that up for a some tenderness is exactly the sentiment behind Cami Walker's 29 Day Giving Challenge.

The 29 Day Giving Challenge is working because I am giving (and not giving) with far more consciousness than ever before.

I missed the opportunity to give Ricky a gift yesterday, because in that instance, the act of giving was too hard for me.  BINGO!  That is exactly the kind of giving I should be stretching myself to do!  So, today's gift will go to Ricky.  Not sure when, where, or what, but tune into the 29 Gifts Community Forum if you are curious to know what my gift turns out being.

Think about this.  What have you not given because doing it would have challenged your pride, your values, or another one of your hot buttons?  I dare say, that is exactly the kind of gift you ought to try giving before the 29 Day Challenge is over.  Join us in the Community Forum labeled Today's Post to tell us about your last missed opportunity to give.  And, join us in the Community Forum labeled, 29 Gifts if you are playing along and want to tell us about today's Gift #6.

Shining off until tomorrow...