A Christmas Thought, before I retire to my warm home and happy family to enjoy the holidays

Francis Porretto, over at Eternity Road, wrote this very meaningful passage encouraging charity this holiday season, and for every other season of the year. My wife and I are currently examining finances (quite stretched this year, I must admit) to see what we can free up to give to several local charities helping disadvantaged children and children with illnesses, and so, in that spirit, I have blatantly plagiarized the entire passage and pasted it here, for your enjoyment. Mr. Porretto is a wordsmith like few others.

“Most Americans live in a "bubble of comfort" (Peter Kreeft) that's unparalleled anywhere in time or space. We see to our true needs almost without thought. Our wants are few and routinely met. Our indulgences are numberless; far too often we confuse them with necessities, withouth which we would wither and die.

Most. Not all.

There are some genuinely unfortunate folks among us. I'm not talking about a family that can't afford the latest model iPhones or designer sneakers; I mean families destitute through no fault of their own, unable to meet their true needs without assistance. Because we're such a rich people, there aren't many such, and even those few have recourse to public assistance of several kinds. As I've written before, no one in America is out of reach of sufficient food, clothing, or shelter to keep life in the body and hope alive.

But public assistance is the worst and most degrading kind. It doesn't matter what attitudes its operators might display; merely the consciousness that one has become a public charge is enough to evoke despair, or something near to it, from those upon whom chance has frowned. This is a specially heavy burden for decent people, accustomed to carrying their own obligations, who've fallen on hard times.

I shouldn't have to tell you that extending a helping hand to such families is even more appropriate at this time of year than at others. But you might not know that doing so is good for you, too.

A Christian understands the spiritual mandate for constructive charity:

...but, owing to the trend toward social atomization, we've largely lost the recognition of how charity assists the giver emotionally. It provides a huge lift of spirit to aid someone who deserves aid -- a particularly important insight for those who, for whatever reason, find the Christmas season difficult to bear.
If you're feeling low, apart from others, unable to feel personally relevant to those around you, look for someone in need through no fault of his own and do what you can to ease his burden. It's a blessing twice over, and supremely appropriate in the season in which we celebrate the birth of Christ “

Look, it doesn’t have to be much. In light of our record snowfall so far this year, (over 40” on the ground now) the dig-out process has been oppressive. I have spent most of my evenings over the past week helping my neighbors to dig themselves out of the drifts. Charity does not have to involve money. In fact, the best charity of all doesn’t, because it forces you to get your hands dirty, to take part, and to be involved, instead of writing a check and moving on.

Do your best to help your fellow man this year. Stop and help the person who’s vehicle has become hopelessly mired in a snowbank. Dig your neighbors out of the drifts. Volunteer at a food bank or warming shelter. Give old clothes to the needy. None of these things require you to be wealthy, but all of them will come greatly appreciated by those that you help.

Remember, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Help spread the light of this holiday season by being a part of that light.