“If you want to make progress in love, speak about love; for holy conversation, like a breeze, fans the flame of charity.” St. Ignatius of Loyola
Happy Monday!
Another Thanksgiving Day is in the books, and I hope yours was lovely! If you’re the shopping type, you may have maneuvered through the crowds during the Black Friday sales or let your fingers do the shopping during the Cyber Monday sales today. As December has begun and the holiday preparations are in full swing, I wish you manageable stress, a charitable heart, and peace during the season.
Although some of us are excited about this time of year, the holidays present challenges to many. Some have unsavory memories of family interactions, while others recall disappointments. Embarrassment or misunderstandings may have dampened what is anticipated to be joyful, making it much harder to tolerate. Many isolate themselves in self-defense, become reclusive, and wait for the season to finish. This time of year can cause a lot of anxiety, even when we are happy it’s here.
It’s a time when charity isn’t just about giving material things, although that might be an excellent addition to our traditions. Charity can be more when we look at ways to connect with others. It can be an antidote to sadness and negative feelings.
Charitable acts can look like sitting with someone struggling with a tough decision or spending time with a neighbor whom others have neglected. It could be having patience for that clerk who seems distracted and unpleasant. Maybe it’s volunteering for an unsavory task or helping an acquaintance with a difficult transition.
Charity may also be something we change about ourselves. As we are often short-fused during this time of year, it might be keeping ourselves in check so we don’t lose our tempers. Or maybe it’s purposing to be extra kind when we don’t particularly feel like being nice at all. Perhaps we need to offer the generosity we freely give to others to ourselves. Mainly, charity is about love.
I’ll share some thoughts from St. Ignatius of Loyola:
According to St. Ignatius, love begins with conversation. Speaking edifying words to another person hastens the progression as we provide comfort and hope. He notes that things can progress swiftly as we actively fan the flame of charity.
Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians gives us the true definition of love. I encourage you to spend some time with various translations to understand the power conveyed in the verses. They speak of the meaning of love and how it’s effectively modeled. It’s not difficult to see how loving conversations can easily create a wildfire of charitable thoughts and actions as we fan the flames.
There’s another aspect of charity that we sometimes miss. It’s not something that necessarily results in recognition. Quietly and with discretion is encouraged in Matthew 6. Verse 3 instructs: “…but when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy]…” (AMP)
When we give in secret, we can express our love for others and grow our understanding of what motivates us. We may need to learn how to be good without recognition. Maybe we’ll benefit from creating ways to assist others with more than their physical needs. We might even find it gratifying to hide in the wings and watch with a new appreciation for our own abundance.
We’re entering into one of the most charitable seasons of the year. What a great time to cultivate a spirit of giving without anxiety or judgment. I hope you have ample opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations that bring you joy and bless others in the process. Together, we can fan the flame of charity and extend our reach to others in our sphere of influence.
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
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