During the big holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, charitable acts should play a larger part. The key to charity is that it is given from the heart while GETTING NOTHING IN RETURN. Today’s human, however, seems to think that he or she needs recognition or a prize. We’ve changed the meaning of volunteering to make it benefit us. We need to bring volunteer back to what it means–to helps those around us, not ourselves.
We all know there are people living in worse conditions than we could possibly imagine. They could use a boost to get them back on their feet. That’s why we have canned food drives or clothing donations. We should participate in these events because we see people in need and want to help them. Too often these days, we here voices saying, “I have to help with stupid volunteer work.”
Volunteer work should be something that we should do without expecting something back. That’s the point of the work. When we get something in return, it changes the experience. Instead of trying to make others’ lives better, we’re busy looking out for ourselves. It’s hard to learn this lesson when we are conditioned to be bribed to help.
Often bonus points for a test or an extra grade in the gradebook is the incentive. This is a teacher’s choice, but often we hear students say, “If I’m not going to get anything, I’m not going to do it…I don’t care about those people….” What Scrooges we have become.
Take a look at your Christmas list and find one thing you don’t really need. Use that money for a good cause. Donate, fund, help someone less fortunate. The satisfaction is a reward in itself. Perhaps the people you help will one day be able to help others. It will also build their character and yours at the same time. It’s a cycle that needs to keep going.
Giving shouldn’t be about “me”. Prizes shouldn’t be necessary to get us involved. If we truly have faith in the things we claim to have faith in, the material rewards shouldn’t matter.