Giving in Whatever Way Fits Your Heart

With this month’s tenet, “We believe in the Model of Powerful Impact,” and that Giving Tuesday is November 28^th, I wanted to focus on the Powerful Impact of Charitable Giving and Donations.

Many of our earliest charities were founded by religious groups, the nobility, or wealthy individuals heeding God’s call to help the neediest members of society. This was normally the poor – especially orphans and widows and the sick or disabled. Help would be provided in the form of shelter, food, clothing and caring for the sick. Ancient Chinese classical thought exalted the “virtue of benevolence,” and Hindu scriptures called giving, “an imperative duty.” Of course, Christians follow the Bible and New Testament’s references to Jesus Christ as He reminds us through His example and written word, that “Charity Never Faileth,” and we must love our neighbors as ourselves.”

This call for giving of oneself is even more relevant today as so many live without even common necessities of food, water, shelter and dignity brought through education and self-respect.

We at Big Ocean Women want to thank those who have generously donated as we try, on a one-by-one basis, to educate our interfaith global sisterhood and empower them with self-reliance and safety. Our model helps our chapters called WAVEs to use their devotion to faith, family, and motherhood to reframe and find solutions for the challenges facing the human family.

And impressive changes we have seen, not because of governmental programs or social agencies, but from the recognition of personal value felt in our members as they learn about their Divine nature and intrinsic power. They are unstoppable and all because YOU cared enough to DONATE.

We’ve carefully monitored every precious dollar donated and how those dollars impact our members, individually, followed by community changes where the results are nothing short of miraculous. Please review the numerous examples at our website, BigOceanWomen.org.

Donations have come in various forms; money, frequent flyer miles, refurbished computers, sewing machines, 1000s of hours of volunteer effort, materials to create infrastructure, medical supplies, toys, hygiene kits. Regardless of the donation, it has made an impact.

Why do people give? Research has shown that 6 out of every 10 people in America donate because 1) personal values, 2) a sense of morality or ethics, 3) a belief in a specific cause they feel passionate about or 4) have had a personal experience.

Of course, psychologists say giving makes us happy. “Humans are hard wired when it comes to pleasure and lots of people feel good when they give. This rush of inner warmth and contentment is known by psychologists as ‘Egoism’. Giving can stimulate your brain’s mesolimbic pathway, or reward center, while releasing endorphins that can lead to a ‘helper’s high’ that boosts self-esteem, elevates happiness and combats feelings of depression.”

What does God say about donations? “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Regardless of the reasons others donate, why do you or why don’t you?

1. Some millennials say, they just don’t have money or have lost a job;
2. Problems have always existed and no matter what I do, it will not change the problem;
3. Not sure where the money goes. Don’t trust charities;
4. Bad things just happen to people and it will never change;
5. I donate my time or things I don’t need so they aren’t wasted rather than money;
6. I Don’t agree with the concept of charity because it only makes the problem worse;
7. I Don’t connect to the cause; and
8. Don’t have time to research and choose a charity to support. (United Kingdom has 168,850 charities alone).

There are a lot of “logical” reasons not to donate, I guess, but from my experience with Big Ocean Women, which is a grassroots, 501c3 non-profit, totally volunteer groups of women who “envision a world where all women are valued and create positive, generative solutions,” there is power in their consecrated donations and time. I am part of a huge payback as I see the gratitude and growth of so many who have so little. It’s truly part of what makes me a better person. I believe it’s a way to show my gratitude for all the endless gifts I enjoy.

Giving is truly a mindset and a consecration asked by God to help others. The good news is, when we pay it forward, we get something back that goes to our core. I hope you take advantage of the opportunity this month to express Gratitude for all you have and pay it forward to help others during Giving Tuesday, November 28th in whatever way fits your heart.