Developing the Charity Habit

During the holiday season we seem to be kinder, more compassionate, and more apt to give charitably to those in need. It makes us feel good to give, to serve, and to love! It seems to add to the warmth of Christmas and for many it is even a tradition. Yet, when the holidays end, we often return to our 'regular lives', and our giving, serving, and loving efforts are virtually placed in the storage boxes with the trees, wreaths, and other decorations.

I watched a children's show once where one of the characters wished that it could be Christmas every day. He did this because he loved the way he felt at Christmas time, and so this seemed like a solution to be able to feel this way ALL the time. Well, as I am sure you can imagine, having Christmas every day grew old quickly and soon became a nuisance rather than a blessing. People grew tired of it, and it lost its special nature.

While we may not want to celebrate Christmas every day, I think it is possible and even a wonderful prospect to try to celebrate charity every day so that we can hold onto the wonderful attributes that we take on and the warm feelings that we feel during the holiday season. Charles Dickens said, "I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year." These words touched me, and I wondered if this is what he meant by them. If he was suggesting that he would create within himself a 'charity habit' rather than a single concentrated practice of it once a year at Christmas time.

When we think of the word, charity, typically our mind jumps to giving or donating  to those less fortunate than ourselves. In fact as I read the definition for charity right now in the dictionary, the first 4 definitions have to do with this very thing. However, the next three definitions of charity given are:

• a benevolent feeling
• leniency in judging others
• Christian love

To add to these, the New Testament says this about charity: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." and refers to Charity as "a more excellent way" of living.

Charity then is not necessary the giving and serving itself but is more about  the feelings and the attributes that prompt those actions. So when we talk about creating a habit of charity, it is not so much about setting up a monthly donation system (although that is an exciting way to express it) as it is about making a change in the way we view others, in the way we view ourselves, and in the way we live.

Something surprising I found in striving to develop a habit of charity is that not only does it summon those warm feelings of the holiday season, but it is extremely empowering as well! Though I am certain there are many more, these are just a few little treasures that I have found in my charity habit...

• More love = less fear
• Less envy = more gratitude
• Less judging = more understanding
• More understanding = less anger and conflict
• More time spent helping others in need = less time spent stressing over your 'problems'
• Less time spent trying to 'master' others = more time spent successfully mastering yourself
• Less time spent trying to stand out = more time to become truly outstanding

May we all work toward proclaiming Dickens' words as our own and try to develop a habit of charity that lasts us our whole life through.

Love to all,
Linda