First, the wave of guilt.
Then the realization.
(This is not to brag, but to remind myself and others like
me that we ARE giving to charity. We
just do it so naturally and as part of our normal routine that we almost
forget. (I know, I have heard it said
that if you do not feel it, increase it.
Something to think about, but not today’s topic.) We give quietly
without drives, pledges, fanfare, or in
the public sector where our co-workers or others see. (Goodness, now I do it on-line so I don’t
even hand an envelope over and get a handshake.)
Sometimes we fail to give ourselves credit.
Almost all my charitable contributions - all my regular, routine contributions, are
through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. How glad I am to have
a trusted agency that will multiply my small donation, not just through the
donations of others’ money, but through the donation of all the time freely
give to distribute the money and to provide service. When I receive income, I immediately pay
tithing, 10% gross. That is more like 2
days wages from my paycheck, plus any other income I might receive. So I can rest easy about that Donate a Day’s
Wages thing. But that’s not all. Every
month, I pay Fast Offering, even though I cannot fully fast for health
reasons. Gladly I contribute to feed the
hungry or maybe help pay someone’s electric bill, or whatever the need. I also make a small contribution each month
to one of a few charitable causes like Perpetual Education and Humanitarian Services.
On rare occasion, I will donate to an animal cause (I am a
little sad that church contributions deal only/mainly with Heavenly Father’s
children and not His creatures, but I am free to give, so why fuss) And Friends
of Scouting get me every year. And I
like to carry small sack lunches in my car to give to a hungry person.
I am not a totally selfish person because I
do not go for the Big Day of Giving or the Donate a Day’s Wages. Those are more to help people who do not give
as a regular part of daily life. Good for them, but I don't need to join them unless I want to.
Giving blesses my life all year long.
