The practical and spiritual gift of giving
If there is one thing I cannot tolerate, it is waste: I see food that becomes inedible in the refrigerator, fruits that have rotten in the basket and milk that has literally turned a rancid yellow. As my husband is sure to attest, I am not the most organized person in the world but I do have a sense of purpose with regards to the material things we are given as well as a strong belief that everyone should be accorded dignity in life. The combination of these beliefs has led me to channel several items that may be of little or no use to me towards people who would appreciate them the most. Among my list of gifts that go to waste is the untapped or unexercised use of one’s talents. There is no modesty achieved by hiding one’s abilities from the world. Indeed, this is one parable in the Bible that I truly agree with. So, in my unorganized but well-meaning way, I have made a list of activities one might do in order to spread God’s wealth around:
1. Purge your house, purge your soul. I periodically have a general editing of the many things I have collected in my home. Aside from the cold-weather clothes which I use abroad (and which I keep in storage), I rid myself of clothes and shoes that I have not worn in the last four months. I do the same for the apparels of my children. I give my house staff first dibs on the loot. The rest of the clothes are sold in garage sales. If I do not want to be bothered with the hassle of a garage sale, I have my house girls sell my clothes for me. They get 20 percent of the revenue. The result? I end up with clean closets, some grocery money and a happy house staff!
2. A truly happy meal. When I see fruits, pastries or restaurant take-outs that have the potential of remaining uneaten, I quickly wrap them in aluminum foil or pack them in plastic containers. There are a lot of streetchildren outside every village gate. For years, people have resisted giving these kids money for fear that the syndicates would end up with the collected loot. A good alternative would be to give food to these children. “Ate, pahinging pera, pambili lang tinapay!” a child would say. Well! Voila! Here is bread for you. Kadalasan cake pa! Literally! “Pambili lang ng gatas!” Ayan! Nestle Moo at your service! Oftentimes, I see the children eat the food before the traffic light turns green. I cannot stress enough that the food and drinks to be given should NOT be rancid, expired and should not have been partially eaten or handled by anyone who has been ill.
3. Talent show. My good friend, hairstylist Babette Piguerra, always reserves one or two days in a month to go to the poorest places in the city. There he gives free haircuts to several squatter residents. VIVA recording artist and harpist KC offers free singing and theater workshops once a week in Marillac Hills (a government-run center for sexually abused children). Some foreign ladies (usually wives of expats), take time out to read to orphans and care for the disabled in Elsie Gaches and other institutions in the Alabang area. I laud them for their generous spirit. Because of their efforts, hundreds of people are made happier every year.
4. Be an agent of hope. A kind lady who has been my massage therapist for some weeks now shared her life story to me (for those of you who have regular sessions with your masahista, I know you have been there and done that!). Among her stories was her dream of having a stay-at-home job so she could be there for her children. She had been working as a masseuse in order to pay the bills but hoped to save enough money to buy a sewing machine. The machine would enable her to accept orders for curtains. Over coffee the next day, I shared this story to my dear friend Ajie Ishak. Without thinking twice, Ajie said, “I have a sewing machine in my house that is just gathering dust. By all means, take it!” I cannot tell you how shocked my masahista was when I gave her the sewing machine. She was in tears! Now she could be with her children and earn enough for their needs.
All these activities do not really require much time or effort. In most cases, you would be killing two birds with one stone (ridding yourself of unwanted attires and in the process being able to cloth someone in need, editing the contents of your packed refrigerator and by doing so allowing a child to eat for a day). The one significant common factor in all these exercises is that they make a world of difference to someone else. It is amazing how what we consider to be of little significance can mean the entire world to a fellow human being.
“What you do to the least of your brothers you do unto Me.” I count myself as one of God’s most rebellious children but these words I do believe in. Let us start the new year right by spreading our good fortune around. Giving to others gets you more than a clean house and a more organized cupboard. In reaching out to the poorest, we reap the richest of rewards — the grace and blessings of Christian love.
