Good for Goodness’ Sake
Give Back this Holiday
Do you remember the inspiration behind Oprah Winfrey’s “Christmas Kindness South Africa” in 2002?
yourself what an authentic — a REAL Christmas would mean to you?
She was 12 years old, and her mother told them they didn’t have enough money for Christmas. In Oprah’s words, “Just when I started to accept there would not be a Christmas, three nuns showed up at our house with gifts for all of us. There was a turkey, a fruit basket, some games, and for me they brought a doll.”
It’s Needed – Even in the U.S., you don’t have to look far these days to see someone who could use a hand up (as in hand to help up, not a hand-out). But worldwide, well over half of the population is without electricity or running water. Makes the fight over a $2 waffle machine seem pretty pointless, doesn’t it?
“I remember feeling that I mattered to those nuns, whom I had never met. And what it meant that they had remembered me.” “I wasn’t forgotten. Somebody had thought enough of me to bring me a gift.” The story is beautiful in itself. But the fact that so many years later, she was inspired to pass that joy along to 50,000 school children and orphans in South Africa… it reminds us how we never know the effects one small act of giving can have! It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of the holidays. We’re busy with gifts to buy, trips to plan, and parties to attend. When the overwhelm, consumerism, and violence of Black Friday shoppers set in… the best remedy is a peaceful, meaningful holiday. So what do you hear when you stop and ask
Why Give Back?
It’s Good Karma – When you give with an open heart, you’ll always end up with more to give. Giving creates the flow of good things coming right back to you. And it just feels good. It Sets a Good Example – If you’re a parent, one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do with your child is let them choose a cause to donate time or money to. Kids are naturally caring and generous, but you have to encourage it to keep them that way.
How To Give Back
Growing up, our parents made Christmas giving a priority – choosing a family in need to buy gifts for or volunteering to help deliver holiday meals. Our grandmother gave all year round – donating dolls to charity, quilts to church raffles… everything from attending fund raising events to sending us down the street on Sunday with a plate of food for an
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