“As to my calling, I belong to the world…” These words uttered by Mother Teresa gave us a glimpse into her motivation and passion for meeting the needs of others. Giving was a call Mother Teresa took seriously. In 1948, she left the life of a school principal, tending to the needs of students, and humbly entered the world of the poor. She became nurse and washed the wounds of children. She became cook and fed the bellies of the starving. She became hope and nourished the souls of the dying. She became an example to the world.
Now I am not implying at all that you shed your belongings, leave your homeland and radically tend to the needy. However, it would be to your betterment if you graciously give (at least some!) of what you get.
So how do you do that?
- Give thanks. Stop working for a minute, take a look around, and give thanks for your health, your work, your family, and all your other good gifts.
- Start small, looking in your immediate vicinity for ways to help your fellow man. Can you provide a meal to someone who needs it? A ride? Can you meet someone’s financial need? Can you give a hefty bonus? Can you speak a word of gratitude to a person who goes the extra mile? Better yet, to a person who just looks as if he needs it?
- Become an intentional giver. Don’t wait for an opportunity to simply fall into your lap for you to be generous. Set aside time to be so. Set aside money to be so. Research. Watch. Pay attention. Make a plan to help.
- Involve your organization. Make giving part of your company’s culture. Model for your team and your family active participation in charitable work. Remember that you can lead by example (you do what you encourage others to do) and by advocacy (you sponsor what you encourage others to do).
- Think globally. Be open to the idea that you can reach across continents and oceans to improve the well-being of others. Geography can’t limit the creativity found in the mind of man.
“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” Arthur Ashe
So, how about you? Are you making a living? Making a life? Or both?
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