The risks of giving

Christmas has a way of making the heart generous. Perhaps it’s because that’s really the main meaning of the whole celebration. Christ Himself was God’s gift to mankind so we may believe and be saved.

It is ironic that giving has become a risky act these days. When in the past, carollers were welcome guests to a home, now, people have to prearrange an engagement lest the dogs will be set upon the well-wishers. This is because many thieves come in the guise of singing troupes and end up carting off whatever is within reach that is valuable enough to sell. Some make it an excuse to enter plush homes and perform a heist. Although these occurrences are rare, news has allowed a caution to set in.

In the streets, while waiting for a traffic light to turn green, carollers both young and old approach vehicles to render musical begging. I do not consider the discordant renditions carols at all as the brief shaking of an improvised rattle sometimes is all that one is able to get in exchange for a few coins. Here people most often give not because they are pleased or would want to help the seemingly impoverished face that display a Puss in Boots plea in their eyes as they jangle their rattles or blow on their harmonicas. The motorist would just want to rid themselves of the person or persons who block the road. Some fear a scratch on the paint of their car and hurriedly shove change out of a window to immediately send off the leaning caroller.

My experience has been that of women bringing children and singing for food. When you give one of them, the whole tribe gather around your car to take all they can. If you don’t mind them they utter all cuss words in the invective dictionary (if ever there is one) that would make your hair stand. The screeching sounds evil and you wonder how hungry they must really be.      

In offices, solicitations pile, vying to be noticed. Some fear giving because it creates a precedent. Next year, the same “sukis” will knock at the door. It is hard to say “no” in this season of giving especially when your refusal is construed simply to be that of greed, or of playing favorites not of economic limits. When someone asks as if you owe them, it leaves a bitter taste.

Even if one has a whole vault of money, one just cannot give easily. It took several years to fill the shelves and it will only take less than a day to give it all away. Giving must be done with decisive perception. Will the giving promote goodwill or just be construed as an obligation one has towards a less blessed individual or group. Will it start or cement a relationship of mutual gratitude or will it create dependence?

In personal giving, we choose well what to give and whom to give to. We take the time to look for what is suitable and what will make our family or friends happy. The same goes for corporate giving. We give to those who need, those who can share with others as well, and to those we can help.

In all these, we have to risk giving with a piece of our heart otherwise, the motion remains, a motion.