Day 24: Give Giving a Chance
by Edward Smith
29 Jul 2020
Giving Isn't a Conflict, It Suits You
I'll be the first to admit, that when I'm trying to save up to pay for something, I find it extremely hard to set aside money for giving.
When you're focusing on the math, and you feel like money is tight, giving can feel counter intuitive to meeting another goal. It can feel like a tax. It can feel like you're losing out. Giving slows other things down. It redirects money away from you, and puts it into the hands of other people.
It can feel like an optional nuisance. It can feel like a distraction, but giving can also feel like other things.
It can feel good, it can feel meaningful, and it can give you a sense of pride. That's a lot of stuff to think about.
So a question must be asked. Why give?
Giving Though Hard, Is 100 % Correct. Do it!
You should give, because giving is responsible, it's how you do your part, it's how you make a difference, and it's how you protect your community from harm and mismanagement.
Giving should be a serious part of your budget, because the issues being addressed are very serious.
You should treat giving like you treat your groceries, heating/air conditioning, and your mortgage. Like any core expense, giving should get it's own category at the beginning of the month, and that money should only be used for the specific purpose for which it is intended. In this case, giving it away.
You get to choose the amount, but giving should not happen by accident. Giving should be intentional, and it should be your choice, but you should always choose to do it. I choose around 10% of my take home pay. Like any other important thing, you must learn what works for you, and you must manage it and be proactive.
Giving is What Keeps the World Spinning
Giving is not just a nice thing to do, it's the upkeep that keeps the world running. You're part of that world, and your world isn't working the way it's supposed to be. It's broken. It's constantly being neglected by people, and it's up to you to do something about that.
You've seen the mess. You know where things are going wrong, and you've seen how those things don't get made right, unless people like you take a stand and take action.
Giving is your voice. It's your vote. It's how you decide what happens and how it happens.
It's not up to other people. It's up to you. Tag! You're it. Step up to the plate. Make your mark.
You have the power. You have the tools.
Giving is Your Job
When you do your job, and earn income, you take control of part of the world's money supply. It sits in your bank account, and you are promoted to it's boss. That money can do anything. It is infused with limitless potential and it reeks of possibility. You determine that money's destiny, and your decisions determine whether the destiny is good or whether it's evil.
Giving Should be Inclusive
My house and I have been giving to worthy causes for over two decades.
When we started, we started small as a couple, but as our family grew and we had kids, our donation efforts became bigger, and our kids became a major part of it. As of this date, we have plans to expand on this idea, and our kids are part of that plan. Once the house is paid off, our giving fund will explode. Our kids are going to see it as it happens, and it's going to change how they see things going forward.
Giving Teaches Kindness and Love
Every Sunday, my wife and my kids donate money to our local church. My kids know the church staff, they physically put the money into the donation plate, and they talk to the people while it is happening. It's not just money going out the door, it's a physical connection between my kids and another human being.
Our church funds missionary work overseas. My kids have donated to those missions and have sent letters to the missionaries thanking them for their hard work and sacrifice. My kids have received letters back, thanking them, and my kids have kept those letters, because those letters fill them with pride.
The church also identifies families around the area that are in need of food and supplies. My kids roll up with me to the curb, and help me carry things out to the volunteers. They were with me on the shopping trip, they helped pick everything out, and they helped deliver things to the end point. They got to see it all, and they were heavily involved in the entire process.
Christmas Became the Season of Giving
My two kids have gone to toy stores with me and filled up shopping carts full of toys during the Christmas holiday. Nothing communicates Christmas better to two small people then that of physically giving things to others. It's better then any gift you can get. We celebrate this milestone with a nice dinner afterwards. It's become a new Christmas tradition.
We've attacked toy stores like our household won a shopping spree. It's unreal what you can get, if your intentional and you budget for giving ahead of time.
I notice that never seems to happen when I'm being selfish and am buying stuff for myself.
When you do it for others, it works out. You get to the end, your cart is full of a bunch of cool things and you feel the weight of it, because none of the stuff is even for you.
I guess it's like what happens when you visit another person's house and everything is different, unfamiliar, and super interesting. It's even better though. The toys represent something more than that. They represent selflessness and love for a complete stranger.
You get to give these things away, and you get to make someone else's Christmas awesome. My kids see all of that. They've part of it. They're the reason it happened.
When you involve your kids in this type of thing, it does something to them. They ask lots of questions afterwards. My kids have told me how it makes them feel. It makes them feel good and it makes them feel proud. Guess how that makes me feel? Incredible.
Conclusion
Giving is the best way to use your money. It's a need, not a want. Your soul is starving. Your soul craves something. Giving is what your soul craves, and it's what the world needs right now, and it's what it's always needed. Giving is like paying money to improve your health, but it's your spiritual health. Best medicine on the planet. Go get some by giving some today!
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