A few things happened at my house yesterday that made me realize how incredibly selfish we can get during the holiday season. The first was in the form of the generosity of two of my sisters. The other was in the form of a movie on Mother Teresa.
Yesterday, my mom was talking to two of my sisters (one's 9 and the other is 6). I'm not sure how the conversation came about, but I think it was something along the lines of her asking them what they thought of giving money to a needy family instead of receiving presents this year. Back up...to understand something about this...my siblings aren't going to get grand presents this year...for them, it'll be something along the lines of the $10 bear the 9yo's been pining over ever since she saw it in Wal*Mart and a chalk board and some chalk that the 6yo's been wanting for I don't know how long so that she can play school. So back to yesterday...well, the girls were more than willing to give up their presents to help a more needy family we know. I'm not sure what my parents will decide to do, but it was really heartwarming to see two little girls that don't get much anyway willing to give up the little they could get.
Then, last night, we watched "Mother Teresa" starring Olivia Hussey. Towards the end of the movie, Mother is in a meeting with some executives for some kind of organization for her order. As the man is babbling about how their costs increases over the year, Mother waves to a butler (I guess he was). When he walks up, she asks him how much each bottle of water is. He says it is $3. "Three dollars," Mother murmurs, "for three dollars, I could educate a child for an entire year." Could giving a child the gift of an education really be cheaper than a meal at a fast food restaurant?
In America, we are so spoiled. Everything has to be perfect...we need the nicest gifts, the best decorations, the most scrumptious food, the loudest parties, etc. During this holiday season especially do we find ourselves splurging and buying things that we and others don't really need.
This holiday season, don't be so selfish. Make your gifts productive. Think about others. Get something that will last a lifetime instead of five minutes.
~Pep Talk # 87,654
Every year my school puts out a Christmas Tree with 100 salvation army angels on it and what they would like. This year, they were all gone within a week. Christmas is a time when we are asked to help out a lot by donating or volunteering, and I'm always glad when people step up. I think your mom's idea about taking money to help out another family is a great one and your little sisters would probably enjoy shopping for books or toys for another kid.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
That's neat! My church has a "giving tree" where they have a variety of items that people can choose from, buy, wrap, and attach the tag that was on the giving tree. "It's always better to give than to receive." : )
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
Being atheists, the season usually holds more annoyance for us than anything else. But our families are rather into the whole business, and insist on giving us gifts. So, a couple of years ago, we started asking our family and friends to refrain from sending us packages, and instead to donate to a list of our favorite charities in our name. That way, at least something good comes out of all the seasonal maddness.
TTFN,
Blackout
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Check out Progressive PRIDE, a Gay-Straight Alliance for the Progressive U community.
Well, even if you don't hold the religious aspects of any of it, it's a nice time to get together with family and remember the importance of giving. That's an awesome thing you're doing of asking them to donate to charities!
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa