8 Days to Christmas, Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025

“Do You Know What You Did?”

Do you know what you did? That question immediately puts me on the defensive, ready to come back and defend my words or actions. But today, this question is not meant to worry anyone. Instead, it’s meant to call our attention to something good, positive, and encouraging that we did.

For instance, on this date 103 years ago, the Wright brothers celebrated their first powered, sustained flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Do they know what they did? Could they have imagined the skies filled with millions of people every day, traveling from place to place? I doubt it.

Most of us haven’t invented something that changes the whole world. However, there are plenty of things we can do to help change our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. What kind of things am I thinking about?

Consider this: Have you ever seen someone give money to a panhandler? When you see it, what thoughts come to mind? And if you’ve seen it several times, do your thoughts always stay the same, or do they shift depending on the context?

Now, let’s turn it around. Have you ever given money or goods to someone in need, or to an organization that provides for them?

My point is that just as others’ actions can give us pause, our actions can make an impact. Of course, we don’t help others just to be seen. Someone may give a fortune to a hospital in exchange for having their name on the building—that’s one way to give. Another is to give a dollar to a panhandler or drop off nonperishables at the church so local foodbanks can feed the hungry.

The holiday season is the season of giving. But not because we need a tax deduction for 2025. We give even more in It’s the giving season because we are blessed, and many people need a lot of help.

Let’s keep our ears to the ground and our eyes up. We’ll likely encounter someone who needs help—or find a way to give back to those who care for others.

“For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you.”  (John 13:15, NET)