Perspective...

Today, it's four weeks to Christmas. Four weeks for many people who have no idea what they can afford to buy their children for Christmas, four weeks for many who chose to not pay some of their bills just to see the joy in their children's faces, four weeks for many who could lose their jobs, lose their unemployment benefits, lose a loved one via death, divorce or an unexpected break-up and four weeks of uncertainty.

Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving, family and good times, after all, that is the spirit of Christmas. But most don't feel that spirit anymore, because they have never had their Christmas wish come true, they have seen it as a time of intense financial pressure and they see it as a time where they have to confront their family who they have tried to avoid for the past 12 months so they don't need to reveal all their hurt and failures in life. It can be a time that is beyond their emotional capacity in coping.

So for us, who can afford to make a difference in someone's life, TODAY is the day to do it. Give from your heart in anyway possible - lend a hand, cook a meal, give someone a job, pay for their petrol, hand over your credit card at the supermarket and pay for their groceries... DO SOMETHING NOW to give them four weeks of hope that this year, Christmas will be OK.

The best thing about giving, is not expecting anything in return. The joy in giving, seeing how much your thoughtfulness has affected the person you're giving to, is enough pleasure in itself, especially if you see the joy first hand. And when it's unexpected from the other party, it's even more rewarding. It doesn't have to be a lot that you give, just something that is thoughtful, something that is needed, something that will ease the burden for that person or family, even if it's for a day, it's something. And that something will give them renewed hope that there is goodness in this world, and they aren't forgotten. If they can renew their belief, then they will somehow believe in themselves a little more, and more goodness will come to them... it's one of the laws of the universe.

So have a little perspective today and think outside yourself, think what other's don't have which is a necessity... a new pair of shoes, a meal to eat, new books for school, a roof over their heads, even some medical attention, do something to make the world a better place, even if it's just helping one person at a time.