Give The Gift This Year

AROUND HERE WE SAY:

MERRY CHRISTMAS

It's no secret that some of our brothers and sisters are hurting this year. Many have been laid off or have lost their job permanently because of the economy. We can discuss for hours the cause of the financial mess, but that is not the point of this column.

Traditionally, Conservatives give the most to charities. Why that is, well that's another discussion for another day. The point is that throughout the years, Conservatives are the "go to" people when charities need help.

I personally know a family who is for the most part conservative. Their young son goes to a parochial school and they try and do the right thing and instill those values on their children.

The boy came home from school the other day and announced that he had won $100 in a school raffle. Apparently, the 7th and 8th graders were trying to finance their spring trip and were raffling off a signed Pittsburgh Penguin jersey. In addition to the jersey, the second prize was $100. The father had bought a ticket for the boy for the jersey, expecting that it would end up as a donation to the Junior High students.

Anyway, when their son came home with the $100 the whole family sat down and discussed what they should do with the money. Naturally the boy was excited about the money and if you were able to get into his mind, you would see that he had visions of video games dancing in his head. The mother and father could have used the money, but both felt a sense of "duty" to use the money for something good and worth wild. The also wanted to impress upon their son that this was a chance to help someone.

They wrote a letter to the principal saying that while they could use the money, they knew there were other families out there struggling during this holiday season. They wanted to donate the money anonymously to a family within the parish community that could use their help. They didn't want to know the name of the family, they just wanted to know that it went to someone in need.
It turned out that their parish had a local St Vincent De Paul Society that currently had about 15 families they were working with and that their donation would help to put food on the table of a family and even buy a couple of Christmas presents for some children. They gave the money knowing that because of their good fortune, someone who have just a little brighter of a holiday and hopefully will realize the reason for the season.

This family did not want thanks or accolades, they just wanted to do the right thing and help their fellow man. They were trying to follow the teaching of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now it does not matter if you are Catholic, Jewish, Protestant or even an Atheist, people out there are struggling and it is not all their fault. You don't have to give to a religious organization, there are plenty of secular charities out there helping people. It is important that we all help our fellow man.

I know times are tough. We are all hurting in some way. Maybe you have lost some money in the stock market, maybe your retirement fund is down, but if you have a steady job and your healthy is relatively good, this is a chance for you to give thanks in your own way. It doesn't have to be a lot, maybe $25 or if you can afford it, $50. You would be surprised how far and how many people you can reach with just a small donation.

I have made my donation, won't you please consider making yours?

Merry Christmas.