The highly anticipated and much prepared for Christmas Day is approaching. Meals will be prepared, and gifts will be exchanged and unwrapped with excitement. Amidst it all, families will gather to share in all the special moments. All across the globe, the giving season is well underway.
During the festive period, it is also customary for communities as well as individuals to demonstrate their generosity. The benefactors of much of these offerings are usually charities and the underprivileged; they are provided with much-needed food, toiletries, and other essentials.
The spirit of giving is a powerful thing, as we have seen over the past few weeks. Guyanese have once again shown great generosity in countless toy drives and holiday parties, to provide Christmas presents and fun for children who might otherwise have had very little.
The collective response and the charitable giving — of food, money and other resources — have been remarkable, particularly around this time. So, too, have been the efforts of local residents and civic group members, who volunteered their time at local fundraisers and other events. Many of the efforts already undertaken this season have brought much joy and relief to beneficiaries.
In general, local communities are very in-tuned with helping others, especially during the festive season. There is something about this time of year that makes persons reflect on just how fortunate they are. This period is also a reflective time for many, with the year coming to a close.
One of the best aspects of helping the less fortunate is not only that it can change a person’s life, but it allows for personal growth as well. Helping others would always lift spirits, make us feel good, and is something from which we can gather a sense of real accomplishment.
Even as we check off our to-do list in the coming days, we must give a thought to families who might not have as much, and who will struggle to put food on the table in the coming year. We must all do what we can, and encourage everyone we know to give what they can, to help the less fortunate here and even throughout the world. If money is tight, perhaps they can give some time to a church, school, or other organisation in need of volunteers. Whatever it is, what is important is that we continue in the spirit of giving. Even if it is just giving blood at the blood bank, this, too, can help save a life.
Christmas and the story of Christ’s birth still teaches each generation the remarkable joy of giving without concern about getting. But so often, the payback is greater than we might ever have imagined. It is comforting to know that all that we give goes to a good cause, and, in the end, we all feel great, because being generous is a gift in itself.
However, after the New Year starts, this spirit of giving disappears. But the question remains: since giving back during the holidays creates universal joy, who don’t we do this all year round? Wouldn’t we become happier if we did?
There are endless opportunities to give back and spread love, and it can be as simple as seeing a friend in everyday life. Holding the door, asking someone how their day is, or just being friendly towards someone, can make a bigger difference than you even know; and it is easy to do any day of the year, not just the month of December. You never know what someone is going through, and treating people with kindness can truly make someone’s life better. There are people in need everywhere, even in your own street, and we should be eager to help them, as we, too, might one day need a helping hand.
