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As the holidays roll around, efforts by local churches to collect donations to give to the needy accelerate. Everyone likes to get gifts for the holidays, and those who are financially strapped might just appreciate a gift more than a child. Children get plenty of presents, and often appear happy with them for a few minutes, then quickly seem to lose interest. That’s no reason to stop giving gifts to kids, but the idea is there that to create a profound impact on someone’s life, it often doesn’t take much. By donating to your local church’s collection efforts, you can have what often amounts to a large impact on a stranger’s life. And the best giving might just be anonymous giving, with no expectations of ever knowing the full extent of the impact that your donation made on someone’s life.
This is of course, an extension of what most churches promote inside their walls each Sunday. Selflessness, best defined as having no expectation of reward or other recognition for your acts, is highly regarded in most faiths. And it is a completely selfless act to bag up some of your possessions to give to those who are less fortunate. Church collection services are great aggregators of items that people need around the holidays, such as coats, gloves, hats, boots, shoes, books, blankets, bedding materials, and even furniture.
In addition, churches are great distributors of collected items, often providing a free delivery service to those in need, who often do not own viable winter transportation. So as you hear your minister, pastor, preacher, rabbi, or other holy man or woman speak about selfless giving as the holidays roll around, remember that they’re talking to you. Consider being selfless, and donating items that you yourself might still want or even need. Because true giving involves giving away nice things, not just things for which you no longer have any use. Be generous this holiday season.
