DAY 2: GENEROSITY #40acts

I’m supposed to get a jar today to put spare change in.  I thought I would promote Operation Rice Bowl instead since our family participates in that every year.  I have yet to go and grab one so I put a generic picture.  If you’re looking for charities to give to this Lent, I would highly suggest Catholic Relief Service (http://crs.org/), Compassion (http://www.compassion.com/) and Kiva (http://www.kiva.org/).  CRS is one of those best charities I know and the people there and the work they do are amazing.

It always makes me feel guilty when I’m approached by a panhandler and I have to say no to them.  This is partly because I doubt their authenticity of really being in need or that they are just trying to feed their addictions.  Of course not all panhandlers are dishonest.  In fact, most of the panhandlers I actually encountered seem genuine.  But there’s something about not wanting to feel cheated or used that refrain me from giving out so often.  The whole point of this is really not about “me”.  When we give, we are being in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who are less fortunate than us.  The Catholic Social Teachings call us to have preferential option for the poor and imitate the love of Christ through others.  This does not mean we have to give to every person we see that asks us for money.  No, that is rather absurd because there will always be poor people.  But as Christians, we are called to be charitable, with our money, our time, and our love.  Sometimes people just want our undivided attention to talk to so we give them our full presence.  Generosity is love expressed outward in a smile, a hug or a prayer.  Even Jesus did not heal everyone.  We recognize our limitations as human beings and give in ways our vocations lead us.  That can be giving out money, volunteering in a food pantry, visiting the elderly, cleaning dishes for our family, or simply loving ourselves more.  To love, one has to know what love is by loving ourselves (BUT NOT TOO MUCH!).