What goes around comes around – we’ve been taught this since we were kids. Although this statement seems to imply that we must help others if we expect to be treated well, it’s more a lesson in how we must live our lives, doing all we can to make the lives of the people around us better. And if you think you need to be rich in order to be able to render help, you’re wrong. All you need to be a philanthropist is a willing mind and a dedicated heart. Without making monetary donations, you can help others by:
· Offering your time: The one thing that you don’t get back once you spend it is time – so by giving people your time, you’re showing them that you really care for them and want to help them. Time is even more valuable than money, because it is a more personal gift, one that people tend to appreciate more. It also relates the gift to you so that the people who are at the receiving end of your kindness are able to direct their gratitude to you rather than to an anonymous donor who contributed money.
· Showing people you care: in any way you can. You can offer them a temporary place to stay when they don’t have a home (friends and family members); you could give them a meal when they visit your home; or you could run errands for them or babysit when they have other pressing matters to take care of. When you show people that you care for them through small gestures such as these, you’re really helping them out in big ways.
· Listening to them: This again involves giving freely of your time, but is more difficult than just volunteering to help out at events. You must be able to empathize with people and their problems and offer a sympathetic shoulder even though it’s not something that you can identify with. When you show people that you are there for them, even if it is just to talk, you’re sending out a powerful message, one that tells them that they can turn to you for emotional help.
As you can see, there is more to helping people beyond money. All you need is a large heart and lots of time.
By-line:
This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of online bible colleges . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com
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