Giving to Charities during the holidays, is it really a good thing?

Well, it is December. The time of Christmas is upon us. During this month many charities receive an influx of donations that finances their activities for the remainder of the year. What does all the giving mean though? What does it mean that people do not tend to give as much during the rest of the year? Here is some Honest thoughts about this trend.

First we must look at why people give specifically during the holidays more so than at other times of the year. In the commercial society that we currently have the holidays have been transformed into one massive series of gift exchanging. Give, give, give to others. Hence the massive push by Charities to collect funds during the holidays. But do we give from a sense of generosity or do we give from a sense of obligation?

Here's a proposition for you, many people give during the holidays, and not during any other time of the year, because they feel guilty about not giving of themselves at any other time. "Giving is the right thing to do," translates into, "You have so much and yet you have given nothing to the unfortunate." "Giving is what God wants of you," becomes, "You soul is in trouble if you do not give." Guilt should not be the motivator, but it is.

Here is a thought, why not give through out the entire year. You don't have to give large sums of money in order to make a difference. Give time, energy, effort. Pick up trash in a neighborhood not your own. Volunteer at the after school program. Spend some time reading to the elderly. Be a big sister or big brother. Just be nice to strangers. Odd concepts, but just think how much good change could come about by taking the time to improve the lives of others, and maybe your own.