Charity – Giving to the poor and needy.
Donations world-wide increase by nearly one-third between November and December every year. It appears that the Christmas season, the season of giving, really does have an effect on us. It is where we open up our hearts and pocket books to share of our abundance with those who have less. Of interest, giving is not a pursuit solely of the wealthy and successful, but is also engaged in by those less fortunate. In fact, it is not uncommon for someone who himself is struggling, to offer charity to someone who is even less fortunate than himself.
Giving of money, food or clothing, is a means by which people help to meet the needs of those around them. Of course, gifts of food and clothing are usually done at a local level while other forms of giving, including financial giving, is done for those who are father away from the local area.
The concept of giving has been around for millennia and is mentioned by nearly every well-known religion in the world. It is said that giving is done out of a heart of gratitude. Thankfulness for what we have been given produces the attitude of gratitude which seeks action in giving. In order for giving to achieve its full effect the donor must possess an attitude of gratefulness and cheerfulness in what he is giving. If giving is done with drudgery and pressure then the gift has neither been given fully nor freely.
Christmas is a great time to think about helping those around you in need. Whether it is volunteering to serve at the local soup kitchen, an anonymous gift of cash to a relief organization or preparing a food and gift hamper for a family in need, it all equates to giving. Small gifts are every bit as important as larger ones. Little actions when done consistently and by many have huge impact on the world around us.
Here are some super fun ways to donate.
- Host a Christmas party and encourage your guests to bring a non-perishable food item instead of a hostess gift; then gather all the donations and take them down to your local food bank;
- Gather a group of friends and family and head out shovel snow or do yard maintenance for some elderly people that would have difficulty doing it themselves;
- Spend a day or two building at house with Habitat for Humanity, not only will you get to spend a day with some super fun people, but you will also see a tangible result right away for your effort;
- Instead of buying pajamas for under the tree this year, how about taking those new pajamas and donating them to children in a local shelter;
- Head down to the local soup kitchen and spend the afternoon with some friends feeding those in need;
- Give Christmas to a family who would not otherwise have one by adopting a family through a local agency and then going out and buying them everything they would need to have a Christmas celebration from food and day-to-day necessities to gifts for each family member under the tree.
Regardless of how we choose to give, from service to cash, we know that as we have been blessed we bless.
There will be no one in need among you;
you are greatly blessed
in the land given to you as an inheritance.
Deut 15.4
photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/85608594@N00/10939981936″>I give others. Not because I have a lot, but because I know what it’s like to have nothing</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>(license)</a>
photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/12392252@N03/3768381142″>215_OurGang</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a>
photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998366@N02/3118323248″>Jongen blaast kaars in kerstboom uit</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/commons/usage/”>(license)</a>