I heard one of my teachers say a long time ago that the real measure of a man (or woman) is not in what he (or she) takes, but in what he (or she) contributes to society.
And what better time it is to do so, with the numerous organizations and worthwhile causes out there looking for donations this Christmas season.
Never in the history of mankind has the news of natural or man-made disasters been so readily available at our fingertips or on television news, and never in recorded history has the opportunity to give and to help been made so easily accessible with the dawn of social media and the web.
However, do all these technological advances actually translate to more donations collected by NGOs working daily to ease the countless problems happening around the world?
“Donors are still donating, but the amount of the donations are lower,” says Janet Trinkaus, executive director of Rise n’ Shine, an American NGO, in an article from the Huffington Post.
Numerous food banks in North America are also reporting lower than average contributions collected this year compared to previous years.
Could all this be due to the recent recession the world went through two years ago?
Maybe, but after a few recent visits to a big box electronics store and another department store, and seeing the swarms of shoppers bringing home huge price-tag items, I have my doubts that the recession had anything to do with the lack of donations collected this year.
Don’t get me wrong, my fiancée can attest to the fact that due to my male genes, I, for one, am an avid consumer of all things electronics.
However, I have drawn the line this Christmas at not only refusing to buy things I don’t need, but also refusing to buy things which others don’t need.
Do my friends and family members need another gift card to a shop, another iPod (when the last one still probably has half its storage left unused), or another box of chocolates which will most probably grow moldy in their pantry while awaiting an opportunity to be re-gifted?
Maybe it is time to say no to collecting useless “things” which we don’t really need, and yes to giving instead to charities and causes supporting those who really need gifts, whether it be a Christmas shoebox through the Samaritan’s Purse, or donating non-perishable food items at the local food bank.
A wise person once said, “It is better to give than to receive,” and what better lesson to learn than the selfless act of giving this season?
Try giving - you might end up liking it.
