I have long been interested in how we can give back to our communities whatever our faith or intention, I am a big fan of the work of Dr David Hamilton who reminds us that ‘kindness is good for us’ – I invited a guest writer to write this for us…
Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations.
Giving Rocks..
What Does It Mean to Give?
You can give your time, your money, your effort, and even your life to give the disenfranchised a fair shot at life. Giving is selfless, as can be demonstrated by the work of online social work masters degree holders who meet with clients at their homes, in public, or at shelters during all hours of night and day. When you are a giver, you don’t ever stop because your job won’t be done until a worldwide problem is solved. If you give to help eradicate childhood hunger, then your efforts will continue until every child on the planet is fed.
Giving Is Not Synonymous with Charity
During the forthcoming Christmas season, most people who have all their needs met and regularly give to others, feel especially ‘generous’ Whether you hear the Salvation Army bell ringing when you go to the mall or get a postcard in the mail inviting you to help serve Christmas dinner to the homeless, charity – if you partake in it, does make you feel tremendously good about yourself. On the other hand, its important to remember that giving comes from the heart, not your wallet. Helping to feed a low-income family during the holidays will make them feel fortunate, but people in this position require direction so that they may change their present outcomes.
How Giving Will Change You on the Inside
There’s nothing wrong with supporting a cause from afar, but those on the frontline really do get the most benefit. When you work at a shelter, you get to see each resident up close and personal. From people who have had their houses destroyed in natural disasters to homeless families who have been living in the shelter system for a decade or more, you’re likely to see them as people with feelings and not just statistics anymore. Help can come in the form of a warm shower and a clean change of clothes and it can also be an employment assistance program that helps people in poverty to find better means to survive.
When you participate in outreach efforts, you get to forget about your own problems for a while. Not being able to go on a luxury vacation almost seems silly when you see poor people who can’t pay for their own meals. It will change you to become dedicated to giving and you will be a wholly new and better person in the end.
There have been a lot of things written about giving and how you can change your own life and perspective by helping others. For those who have entered nunneries, become missionaries and participated in outreach programs, there’s nothing better for the soul than aiding those who need direction. If you have found that your life’s calling is helping people who need long-term assistance, you may be interested in the Rutgers Online study program. From your computer, you can complete an M.S.W. online, or just learn about what MSW programs online involve. Giving isn’t just about feeling better about yourself, it can also be a way that you provide for your family, better your career, make a name for yourself, and build a positive and lasting legacy.