31 Days of Joy - Day 14 - Joy of Giving

Those that know me well know that the holiday season is my favorite time of the year and I love watching old movies. So, I have been reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and just finished watching one of the many movie adaptations of the book. We all know the story of miserly and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge and his stingy ways. In the movie, there is this scene where a couple of men collecting money for the poor made a statement about the poor wishing to die rather than go to one of the workhouses. Scrooge's response was "Let them die and decrease the surplus population." This scene in the movie reminded me of how we sometimes make judgments about those we consider poor or living in poverty, and often think they do not deserve our help. It was also a reminder to me of the blessing that comes from giving to someone else, especially those that find themselves in need. Think about how you feel when you give a gift to someone from your heart where you know it made their life better and you were not expecting anything in return. I know for myself, it filled me with joy and I often got a smile on my face knowing that I did something for someone else and was generously giving to them.

On day 14 of 31 Days of Joy, we are going to experience joy by giving to someone else. We are going to give not expecting anything in return.

Filled With Joy,

Dr. Daphne