What is your idea of wealth? Is it having the shiny watch and car, an expensive wardrobe? Come the holiday season are you judging how well you did this year by how many packages are under the tree?

Let me share something with you about my perspective on the holidays. In my family, you won’t find a tree at our house. You won’t find presents stacked to the rafters. You won’t find halls “decked” or inflatable Santas on our front lawn. You see, every Christmas my family flies to Belize to bless orphans – and to fill our souls instead of our stockings “hung from the chimney with care.”

We care differently. There is something so heart-wrenching about the holiday statistics. One in three Americans will go into debt this season. For what? Some tinsel and gifts that sit on a shelf. Is that what wealth is to you?

My holiday traditions and yours might be very different. I don’t want to seem like the Grinch telling you not to celebrate anything, but if you are one who has suffered from the debt hangover come New Year’s Day, it might be time to start some new traditions this year. You and I have been blessed for a much bigger purpose than simply collecting personal possessions.

The average American will spend $1,014 during the holidays. Can you imagine if you put that money – or even a portion of that money toward paying off your debt?

If you haven’t heard, our community is currently striving to feed 4,000 orphans right now. It costs $92 to feed an orphan for a whole year. You couldd save the life of 10 children with the money most people spend on Christmas shopping! You have the power to literally save a life.

This is the perfect time of year to reach out and do something good. I can tell you right now, from years of personal experience, giving back always opens YOU for blessings. And you don’t have to donate money! Just look around you. Who in your community could use an extra set of hands and a couple hours? Who could use a good home-cooked meal?

You don’t have to have a ton of money to give back or do good in the lives of people around you. This season, I want to motivate you to start a new tradition of doing good and giving back to your community. Grab your friends or your family and give back!

As you gather with your friends, take a moment to think about the 60 million motherless and fatherless children in your city and around the world who will be alone and hungry this holiday season. Our community is striving to feed 4,000 of them right now – not just for Christmas – but for the whole next year!

What new traditions will you start this year or what cause has really touched your heart? Leave me a comment and tell me! Let’s encourage others such as your friends, coworkers and social media network to start a new tradition of doing good this year as well and make sure to “Like” and “Share” this message.

This Wednesday night join me for The Dani Johnson Show. This could be another new tradition you begin, starting this week at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT!

In great faith,