I knew that when I flicked the channel to TLC a few days ago, I was headed for trouble when lo and behold I stumbled upon an episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a total Gosselin family fan.
What happened this weekend was beyond cute.
It was completely and utterly endearing, especially since the Gosselin's are just a middle class family with eight kids for which they have to provide. Jon and Kate decided that this Christmas they would fly their eight children to Memphis, Tennessee to distribute gifts to the pediatric patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The episode, I'm sure, melted many viewer hearts, as the family went wild selecting presents, wrapping these presents, and then bringing much appreciated cheer to the amazingly brave children at St. Jude's hospital.
The most touching aspects for me were, how responsive all eight of the Gosselin kids were in terms of giving up gifts they would have liked for themselves, and how ebullient and courageous the actual patients were despite their severe health struggles.
As I watched, I felt guilty for forgetting about the children and teens who will celebrate the winter holiday inside hospital wards or in homeless shelters. Sure, I donate during the holidays (St. Jude's is always on my family's non-profit list) but do I actually take time out of day to handpick gifts and wrap them for people, I don't know? Not really.
However, after Jon and Kate's positive influence, I decided to order some lovely items with money I aimed at spending at Sephora. The items will arrive soon and I plan on donating them so that children in need (especially during such a straining year) so that they can have something to open. The Gosselin babies can overcome personal needs, so why can't I?
I acknowledge the fact that recession is not the easiest time to make mealy donations. Too many people have lost their jobs and too many businesses are struggling. However, more and more people have been extremely generous this holiday season.
I witnessed such glorious goodwill on the Jon and Kate Plus 8 episode and I see it every morning when people drop money into the Salvation Army Christmas pot outside Port Authority. Honestly, it seems that recession makes us all rethink our blessings. I for one, feel it's made me ironically less selfish.
Have you found yourself giving more or less this year? What's your favorite place to donate money/gifts to during the holidays? What's the most generous or warm-hearted Christmas donation you've ever witnessed or heard of?
Im giving less this year bc Im not really celebrating it. Feeling anti-social. Oh wait....I spent more but thats bc I helped buy my mom a laptop. More in money but for less ppl.
@The_Prestigiator@xanga - sorry about the video. Had some trouble with it, plus I was scared in the office by myself so I wanted to get out of there ASAP but it's up now.
How can I give when I don't even know if I'll have a job in a few weeks? If that isn't enough, on top of that everyone seems to be wanting to pick my pocket ... well who's going to help ME when I'm out of a job and losing my house? Nobody. If that's not bad enough, I've got a happy go lucky church on a spending spree digging deeper and deeper into church attendee's pocket's because they want to buy properties and build new churches, as if the world will not be the same without a whole new denomination or whatever. It all just really chaps my hide and makes me want to jump up and down and rave like a madman.
@Happily_Married_Guy@xanga - I agree to a certain extent. I don't think churches should collect money to build more churches. I do think that they should collect money to help someone who is desperate and struggling. Also, I do think that during hard times most people reevaluate what's important in their lives and are prone to give more back to their community.
Ms. Piggy Bank 
Comments (5)
Im giving less this year bc Im not really celebrating it. Feeling anti-social.
Oh wait....I spent more but thats bc I helped buy my mom a laptop.
More in money but for less ppl.
@oOBuBBLes711Oo@xanga - that's so sweet! thanks for sharing :)
@The_Prestigiator@xanga - sorry about the video. Had some trouble with it, plus I was scared in the office by myself so I wanted to get out of there ASAP but it's up now.
How can I give when I don't even know if I'll have a job in a few weeks? If that isn't enough, on top of that everyone seems to be wanting to pick my pocket ... well who's going to help ME when I'm out of a job and losing my house? Nobody. If that's not bad enough, I've got a happy go lucky church on a spending spree digging deeper and deeper into church attendee's pocket's because they want to buy properties and build new churches, as if the world will not be the same without a whole new denomination or whatever. It all just really chaps my hide and makes me want to jump up and down and rave like a madman.
@Happily_Married_Guy@xanga - I agree to a certain extent. I don't think churches should collect money to build more churches. I do think that they should collect money to help someone who is desperate and struggling. Also, I do think that during hard times most people reevaluate what's important in their lives and are prone to give more back to their community.