Wednesday’s Word: Giving

There is a great motivation among people to give during the holiday season, which is wonderful, yet it makes me wonder what if giving was a lifestyle as oppose to a season?

Our family lives on a budget, therefore it is important that we have confidence in organizations we give to. A few of our favorites include Compassion International, Bethesda Center for the Homeless , Clemmons Food Pantry, Plowpoint Ministry, our local church – Hillsdale UMC and Operation Christmas Child.

Why do people give to begin with – really? Do people give because of the need, do they give because there is a joy in giving or do they give for other reasons? What is the joy of giving? If you have never experienced the “joy of giving,” let me suggest that you give more and keep giving until a joy begins to rise up within you. If you give a small token, it unlikely that you will experience that deep joy I am referring to. It seems to me that joy occurs when you give up something so that you can give. Does that make sense?

Why do you give? What organizations do you have confidence in and are you willing to recommend?

One would give generous alms
if one had the eyes to see the beauty
of a cupped receiving hand.
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)