- Image by miamism via Flickr
It’s the familiar chaos: the world wakes to a new season, a tinsel soaked madness. December has come and the holidays are trailing after, demanding all attentions — including yours. Your days have become a whirl of crowds and gifts, the search for sales. You have only a month to find the coveted toys, the trinkets to fill stockings. It seems to be an impossible task but you somehow always manage to succeed. You’ve become a master of seeking bargains, discovering the uncommon rewards. There is nothing you can’t achieve.
There is, however, something you can resist — donations.
While the notion of offering dollars and time to charities appeals, you always refuse. You have, after all, too much to accomplish during the holidays. There are no pennies you can spare for others; there are no minutes to give. You must instead hoard them all, ensuring that your family is provided for.
This philosophy is understandable. It is also, however, wrong.
Because individuals across the country share it, and charities suddenly receive no efforts at all. What should be the most important time of the year to donate is instead shaped to meager funds. All families assume that they cannot offer anything to organizations, believing instead that others will compensate for the loss. But that doesn’t happen — with all thoughts turned to presents and songs, there is no concern given to holiday institutions. And the donations therefore stall.
It is essential then that individuals provide more than apathy (or the occasional burst of guilt, however fleeting). They must instead give what they can. The season isn’t meant to be devoted to singularities; it’s to be shared instead by all. And this can only occur when donations are offered.
It’s all too easy to ignore the need for charities. It’s all too essential, however, to overcome the self-defined intentions and give what can be spared. That is the purpose of December. It should be honored.
