Giving Can Change Your Life

Just think about this:

1. 95% of Canadian donors give because of the way it makes them feel

2. 84% say their giving is an expression of their hearts and souls

3. Four out of five Canadian donors say that their giving is an extension of their spiritual beliefs.

These observations were made recently by Fraser Green, a strategist with Good Works - an Ottawa company that has been conducting surveys of giving by Canadians in the last number of years.

When I read these statements, it brought to mind a book entitled “Give to Live” by Dr. Douglas Lawson, an ordained Methodist minister. The central thesis in his book is that giving is not just a minor influence on good health but the key to bodily and mental well being. He cites studies that show for all ages (but particularly among the elderly) one way to escape premature physical and emotional deterioration is by staying active in the service of others.

Some examples of the studies included the following:

† A ten year study of the physical health and social activities of 2700 men in Michigan found that those who did regular volunteer work had death rates two and one half times lower than those who didn’t.

† A life insurance company surveyed policy holders who lived to the age of 100 years or older. One of the questions was:”What is the most important thing you have learned in your long life?” The most frequent answer was “To love thy neighbour as thyself.”

† Two Harvard University doctors discovered that people who watched a documentary about Mother Theresa’s work with the dying showed an increase in immunoglobin - A , the body’s first line of defense against viral infection.

† A Georgia study determined that blood pressure levels were lower among residents who frequently attended church while a California study found that church members lived longer than those who did not belong to churches

Dr. Lawson suggests that “instead of the old slogan, “Give until it hurts,” it seems we should say “Give until you feel great.”

Another interesting book on the same subject is “Rambam’s Ladder” by Julie Salamon which constantly reminds us on every page that we are measured not by what we have, but by what we give.

A few thoughts to consider during this season of Lent!