Only Four Shopping Days Left till Christmas!

Yes, you read that correctly. I'm sounding like amazon.com and looking like your local mall. It's the shopping countdown to Christmas and the pressure is on. It's the time when people are supposed to be happy in their giving to others, but in reality it's a time when the suicide rate spikes, depression sets in, and people spend money they don't have in order to give gifts that won't last.

If you're looking for that perfect gift, you just might get inspired by clicking this image:

For the real gift of happiness, give where it will matter. You don't have to be wealthy. You might give a small gift through Changing the Present, or KIVA, or your local food bank, or an environmental or animal rights organization. Take the time to find the organization that matters to the one your gift is on behalf of. And give happiness to the recipient, the receiving organization, and the benefactors of the organizations.

Comments

[Judy]

Adding Reason to the season, by supporting the needy, not the greedy and adding to Peace on Earth.
May the goodwill that accompanies this season, for whatever the reason, be with you and your Brothers.

Amituofo

[anonymous]

A few years ago my mother decided that it would be better to stop the gift-giving at Christmas and give to charities instead. The whole family agreed and each year we now all put in together to provide something worthwhile for people who desperately need it. This year it was to the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia which provides surgery for women who are ostracized by their families and villages because of the complications of childbirth.

I'm very glad my mother took this initiative. It's so much more meaningful and gratifying to be able to make a real difference in peoples' lives than it was giving useless trinkets to people who already have everything. It leaves you with that warm glow that Christmas is supposed to be about. I thoroughly recommend it.

One nice thing about this is that only the kids under 18 get a present, while everyone over 18 contributes to the charity fund. So these young people are learning very early in life how much better if feels to give than to receive, and there are no complaints!

[Venerable Wuling]

Wonderful! And what a good example for the young people in your family. Thank you.