Everyone has something to give this Christmas season

An entire year of dreams accomplished, hopes gained, resolutions met and gratitude to God for His goodness and mercies in our lives. So how then do we show our appreciation and thanksgiving to God?

It is very simple: by giving back to society.

Giving is an act of kindness that we should all learn to cultivate in ourselves. The belief that giving is only done by the rich and wealthy a fabrication by those who are mean at heart.

In giving, not only does the receiver benefit from your act of kindness but as the giver you also receive blessings.

Nobody can claim not to have anything to give. We are all blessed in one way or another. There are those who have material things and those who have talents.

We can all give without feeling inadequate just because we give less than others. It will all go to making a positive impact in someone’s life.

Buy gifts

Buying gifts for the less fortunate, be it clothes, toys, food, furniture or even blankets (especially in this cold weather) will uplift their spirits.  

Those that are talented can plan a day out to sing, dance, play, read storybooks, poems, and stories to children in orphanages.

The mind is very important. Many times we take care of our bodies and forget the mind. As they say garbage in, garbage out.

Tend to your mind and those of others by feeding them with positivity and by reading widely. In that, our perceptions about life change.

In the spirit of giving, nobody can say that they are not aware of anybody less fortunate. There are orphanages, children in hospital wards, homes for the elderly, the street families.

Help flood victims

With the current rains, there are so many people out there displaced by floods and landslides. This is our chance to reach out for them.

We can all, in our different capacities, reach out and make sure that someone somewhere sleeps better and smiles before going to bed. Many people are living in poverty. We can be of help in our own small ways.

The schools are now closed and I bet parents have their hands full with children running up and down leaving mayhem in their wake.

As responsible parents, let us all teach our children to be givers from a tender age. As they say, you teach a child from a young age the right way and when they grow up they will never stray from that path.

Instead, it becomes a cycle: The children teach their children and their children’s children and that is how we end up saving generations to come by instilling morals and caring nature towards one another.

They say Rome was not built in one day. In the same way, if we want to build strong humankind then we have to start now.

Never give the excuse that someone else will give back. What happens when everyone gives the same excuse? Let us all take the responsibility to be benign to one another.

In all our giving, let us not do it to show off. In this age of technology, let your kindness be between you, the receiver and your God.

Do not give for Instagram double taps and views, retweets, snaps, WhatsApp stories or facebook comments.

Let us do it because we care for humanity and value one another. Let us keep the phones away and for once in our lives give from the goodness and the purity of our hearts.

Do not do it because you will be recognised for an award or to get praise. Do not give in a bid to impress others, to receive something in return or to buy off people.  

It is the Christmas season. Let us all have fun, share what we have, visit our grandparents upcountry and most importantly, let us be responsible in our spending, 'Njaanuary' awaits us all.

Ms  Kyalo is a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) graduate currently pursuing CPA