Sayres our host this week asks :
How will you express your inner-Giver this season? Do you donate to a major charity? Do you serve food in a soup kitchen? Is your generosity something private that you do without recognition or do you hand the guy on the corner a dollar whenever you drive by?
Not only do I want to know what you do, but how you do it, why you do it, and a story about your activity and how it made you feel.
I don't belong to the women who discover their giver hearts only in the Christmas season and start to spend their husband's money on all kind of charities, so that afterwards he can deduct the amount from his taxes. That's what usually women do here in my posh Waterloo.
They also sometimes start to work for a week in one of these restaurants where the homeless can eat for nothing, so they have a good conscience and ... very important, they can tell their friends. I rather admire the people who always work there.
I personally just act like I act the whole year around. If someone is in need I try to help. If I can read for a blind person I do it, for that I don't have to wait until December. When clothes are needed for the poors, I put order in my wardrobe and are amazed what a lot of stuff I don't need anymore. When there is a food collection in a supermarket, I fill in a carton. I do the same for animals in need.
I never give money to a beggar, I will rather buy some food. There are organized gangs here who put their women at the entrance door of a shopping mall with small children and force them to beg.
Once in winter I bought shoes and socks for a barefood child. The guy who observed his woman from far got really angry, I saw it on his face, but when he looked at mine, he turned around and I told him with an icy voice "if ever you dare to take off the shoes of this child, I call the police, I am coming back in an hour and I have my friends watching you ! "(of course that was not true) It itched so hard in my hands to slap him in the face ! I never saw the woman again, he probably moved here to another place. It's so sad !
So I can't really tell a story of good works I do. I don't pretend to be a Christian, because for acting good and with your heart you don't need a special religion. There are also jews, muslims, buddhists, hindus or whatever who are involved in charity and help people in need.
one of these poor women. I took the picture with a zoom from far.
And to the question how it made me feel, I just feel nothing. I feel normal.
I'm with you on this. That's how I do things. I don't go out of my way, but if there is someone in need I try and help :) Loved this post :)
ReplyDeleteI agree too. We should help when we see the need. When I was teaching full time I often helped the poor kids at school. I bought them shoes, lunches and paid for one to go on a school camp.
ReplyDeleteI felt sorry for them.
Below is a copy of a comment I made on my blog in answer to your comment about not liking Fall
" It does get hot in the summer but autumn, winter and spring have beautiful climate.Not hot, not cold.
However, I am talking about Brisbane and the south east corner of Queensland. The southern states especially Victoria,Tasmania, Southern NSW and Southern WA and SA have colder winters and many of their trees are deciduous too."
That's lovely, Gattina! I am also a year-round giver, but I do make a special effort at Christmas because that is when the children (and their parents) feel the lack - when everyone else is getting. And I don't do it for show either... Honestly, I could not care less what other people think. Which is probably why my own giving takes so many different forms.
ReplyDeleteMy post is finally up!
Being a 'year 'round giver' as you say....that my friend, speaks volumes of your generosity.
ReplyDeleteTo give when you see the need is the best way to go. Some People are in need everyday of the year. One small act of kindness can make a big difference in someones life. To give from your heart is a gift from God!
ReplyDeleteGo to facebook "SA Bible Project" to see what our town have done yesterday! That was super great to see the enjoyment of the receivers!
ReplyDeleteFantastic Gattina, and that's how it should be! :)
ReplyDeleteAs far as being Christian there is a wonderful word from Jesus in Scripture where those who served Him never knew it but they helped the poor, the needy, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that same game with women & children across the border. It makes me so sad.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I never give money to beggars. The big thing around here is begging for fuel for cars ("I'm out of gas, I need to get home for a funeral" etc)
I think you should give food instead of money, at least it's something needed. I'm not sure what kind of Christians you've run across, but here we don't just pretend to be good once a year. There are some good, some bad, like any religion, but I don't see people posture for giving to the poor, you give because you can and you should and that's it. Unless you're a giant corporation that wants to make itself look good, no one donates to charity to get the tax break. No one I've ever run across anyway. I'm sorry if that hasn't been your experience, that's sad.
ReplyDeleteI remember your post about the streetside panhandling using a woman and baby for bait, Gattina. Like you, I'm turned off by the holiday rush to "do good". There are people and animals in need all year long so I try to think that way.
ReplyDeleteoh yes, i have heard of those syndicates here as well and have seen some women with children looking really bad, particularly in the frankfurt area ..
ReplyDelete