Now here is a day dedicated just for your sweetie! It exists as an opportunity for you to recognize that sweet and special someone. It doesn’t matter who that person is or what their relation is to you. They just have to be “sweet” in order to get a little recognition.
The first Sweetest Day came out of one man’s desire to do something “sweet” for Cleveland’s orphans and unfortunate residents. Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio philanthropist and candy company employee, wanted to bring happiness to orphans, shut-ins and the underprivileged. His intent was to show these people that they were not forgotten. So in 1922, he started this holiday by giving candy and small gifts. With the help of movie stars, Theda Bara and Ann Pennington, Kingston, delivered thousands of boxes of candy throughout the city.
The popularity of this holiday quickly spread. Today, it is celebrated with loved ones and friends. However, I encourage you to follow the intent of the original holiday and find ways to give to those in need. Consider giving something or doing something nice for those less fortunate than yourself.
Adopting disciplined beliefs in helping others shields us from decay and from being ruined by personal rivalry and obsession about our own well-being. Those who can’t help themselves can receive our help and in turn, empower them to help others. In so doing, everyone’s standing and livelihood improves.
Everyone can give something whether it is time, money or a variety of other ways of helping others: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, comforting the dying.
The Bible is very clear on how God feels about giving, helping others and how both demonstrate love.
1 John 3:17: But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Philippians 2:4: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
We should give because it is a reasonable response to all God has done. We should give to show the genuineness of our Christian confession. Many people say they know the Lord, but those who really know Him show it by how they live their lives, especially by their generosity (Matthew 25:31-46). When we give to the Lord, we put our money where our mouth is, so to speak. We should give because the Lord (Luke 12:33) and His apostles (2 Corinthians 8:7) command us to give.
Christian giving is certainly much more than a duty, but the biblical commands are unavoidable. If specific instruction from the Scriptures were not enough, we should give because God promises to reward us for doing so (Luke 12:33). As it turns out, to give is not to throw money away, but rather to invest it for a staggering return. The Bible is certainly not lacking for reasons of why we should give. Why would we not give?
It’s eye-opening to realize that doing even small things can have a big impact on others. Time is a precious resource, and the ways you spend it can have a big impact on your well-being. Helping others is not only good for them and a good thing to do, but it also makes us happier and healthier too.
Giving also connects us to others, creating stronger communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone.
So if you want to feel good, do good! Be sweet to yourself this Sweetest Day and give! And remember this quote:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
How do you give back to your local or global community? Share your experience or resources with the Loving on Me tribe in the comments section below.
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