I actually wrote this last year, but thought it still applied!
Well, here we are once again, entering "that time of year" ! Where did the last year go to? I for one have no idea. There are some things that have been on my mind for awhile and I felt like it was time to get this written down. I am here to issue you all a challenge this year. It seems to me that over the years the act of giving to others has become less and less personal and more simple, streamlined and sanitized. With click of a button I can give to some wonderful cause, no dirty work required. And there is that wonderful shoebox ministry, some churches have made it so simple that all you need to do is donate money, they do all the shopping and packing and sending for us, no need to even put thought into it ! And getting others to help out with those type of things is usually pretty easy. Its exciting stuff, helping some child in a third world country, that makes us feel extra special somehow. Now, am I saying that these are bad things to do? NO, please do not read this in that way. I enjoy putting a shoebox together with my kids every year and they just love shopping for those gifts, thinking about each one carefully and thoughtfully. There are so many world-wide outreach type of charitys that are just wonderful. I am not here to put them down. I think that we should help those as we can. My problem is this, are we missing out on helping the family that lives right down the road from us? Are you missing out on taking a little risk and going outside your comfort zone ? Its not as fun to talk to someone in our own area who may seem very "different" but looks like their kids could use a little help this season. What if they are druggies that spend all their welfare money on cigarettes and booze? What if they like to keep to themselves like hermits and "wouldn't want us to bug them"??? But wait...what if they are not really welfare bums like "everyone" is saying? What if they are just normal folks who have been through some really bad times? What if that "hermit" type women has been abused in her past and just doesn't find it easy to trust others? What if that family who "keeps to themselves" is just embarrased to let anyone in ? And yes, there are those who really are using the system and whatnot, but should their children suffer for their bad choices? Depression rears its ugly head this time of year and magnifys the worst situations 100 fold. Just the darkness and cold is depressing on its own, especially when you do not have suffient heat and trying to keep your kids warm. Add to that the pressures to keep up that jolly attitude and providing something of a decent Christmas for your kids and you have a very, very stress-filled situation. This is the reality for many, many , MANY familys this year. When I hear people talking about how they have to shop early so their kids get all the stuff they just "have to have", I cringe a little. Or how some people just go out without any real budget in mind and just grab whatever they think their child will like. It makes me wonder, do they know that this is not the "norm" for so many others? In some ways it also seems that people tend to ease their guilt by doing the "easy-giving" type thing. Its like, "well yeah I did buy my 4 year old a iPhone this year, but look I also helped feed some poor person in another country by clicking the donate button on my fav website!" So, enough of my rambling, here is the challenge I issue you today, and I give it to myself as well. Would you be willing to think "outside the shoebox" this year??? Would you take just a little extra time this year to find someone that really could use some help, someone you could even make real human contact with, and do what you can to help??? Someone in YOUR part of the world, someone in your neighborhood even? It is not all about money either. I have not been in the position to do anything financially in a big way for many years now, however I find ways to give. (not tooting my own horn here, just giving an example) If you need ideas, feel free to ask me. If you honestly can not find someone who seems to need help, ask around. Local churches, locial food banks, Human Services ofices, etc. Trust me, you have someone around you! So, step away from the sanitizer for a minute and get some dirt under your nails. You may just surprise yourself by how little it really takes. Heck, you may even decide to try helping those same folks out when its not a holiday season ! I know, its shocking but poor people do not just live the whole year off of those dented can goods you gave them in November. May God Bless You All this entire Holiday Season, Please do be the hands and feet of Christ this year~Very Sincerely, Carole L. Monasmith DISCLAIMER PLEASE READ!- This note certainly is not directed at any individual, many of my dear friends know exactly what I am talking about and are doing their best to help others, No rude comments please, these are just my opinions.
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