Hi Joe, This should more appropriately be called: Innovative ways to give.
Recently I had a young couple where the husband was severely ill. The wife's co-workers donated to the patient's wife their own "family leave" as well as "vacation" days. Thus the wife could take time off to take care of her husband without losing her job or her pay. Obviously the patient and his wife was most grateful to them as they recounted this to me. Similar acts of kindness with no or minimal cost to the donor can mean a lot to recipients in need. Often people give of their services / help. Friends volunteer to paint or fix a friend's or neighbor's or senior citizen's house. The same may apply to neighbors mowing the lawn of a sick neighbor or doing their grocery shopping. It is in giving that we receive. Unfortunately the sense of responsibility / duty disappears long before the lack of action. Often people say, "My home is too small" or "I cannot afford". Yet when there is love in one's heart, there is place in one's home. One cannot do a kindness too soon, for one never knows how soon it will be too late.... Ralph Waldo Emerson The other half of giving: Duty / responsibility is a two way street. This involves the recipient being ever so grateful. On occasion, it would not hurt for a recipient to swallow some pride and request for help and assistance ... instead of expecting something as a matter of right. Often some behave in ways that alienates their children and other relatives. Many feel that society owes them something or that they have a right to it. Often, one needs to help themseves before other are willing to assist or continue the help. In the past, the lack of responsibility / duty was corrected by shaming the individual by other relatives. Unfortunately now it is: I do not want to offend anybody. OR It is not my business. Recently in our Church, there was a HOPE Appeal. The priest said, "We have exceeded our financial goal. But I am very disappointed that only half the parishioners contributed. Those who could not afford could at least have contributed $1:00 to show their concern for this project. This rather that letting the other half carry their burden." Kind Regards, GL JoeGoaUk When we are able but not willing, we still do because we feel it is our resposibility (typical example of 'Exception') but in reality it may not happens so. Typical example of this being 'NRI Children don't look after their parents or don't come back/Goa for their parents' funeral'. Some Other children within Goa, they don't look after their aged parents too. Where is the sense of responsibility here? _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)
