A movement to create an international day of giving

#GivingTuesday refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving; a movement to create an international day of giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.

Many non-profit organizations, communities, churches and individuals need support in terms of financial donations or volunteers of time.

#GivingTuesday receives less public attention than Black Friday and Cyber Monday, both money spending efforts that push a deterioration of Christianity.

#GivingTuesday puts Christ back into the Christmas season, at least injects a sense of helping others although philanthropy should register as a way of life.

Money matters although having currency should not be the sole factor in determining human value.

In fact, a person living in poverty who gives a dollar to a nonprofit makes as much of a powerful statement as a rich person offering $100.

If you have no money then consider a contribution of time. No greater capital exists than time.

Sure, when a person celebrates youth and good health he/she may believe they have an abundance of time but our personal experiences know the fallacy of such thought.

#Giving Tuesday could inspire a person to visit a senior center or find time for an ill family member or friend.

Even businesses use #GivingTuesday as an opportunity for positive community activism although employment should not serve as a prerequisite for giving.

In fact, the unemployed or retired can make a huge contribution in volunteerism. Giving two or three hours per week toward a non-profit can deliver a significant positive impact.

Recovery and change initiatives offer numerous teachings that support personal modification.

A personal favorite saying that offers inspiration involves the performance of good acts.

This one says, “Just for today I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count.”

Acts of love and good count. You can change this saying to acknowledge that only individuals who receive your kindness know about your gift.

Great. But tell no other person. Even that delivers a challenge because ego (Easing God Out) influences humans to broadcast our good performances.

We rarely let people know about our “bad” performances, although cultivation of relationships that allow confessions of failure or desires for improvement sound healthy.

By the way, if a reader lives as an agnostic or atheist, or references their higher power by a different name, this mention of God or Christ is more personal than an act of religious propaganda or attempts to influence.

While #GivingTuesday moves into our consciousness, allow this day to serve as genesis for a life change that produces #LovingWednesday, #HelpingThursday, #FeelingFriday, and #LivingEveryday.

Finally, this offer of gratitude extends to all non-profits that deliver services throughout the entire year and receive minimal recognition.

Your gifts of mission, especially those outreaches that positively impact the lives of children, families, homeless, the hungry, addiction, etc. have our admiration.

#ThankYou.