An 8 year old boy in New Jersey had just celebrated his birthday. He received lots of games and toys. Seeing the terrible effects of recent flooding in a southern city, he decided to give away his toys to the children who had lost everything. Touched by the boy’s selflessness, others decided to contribute, too. Soon, a whole truckload of toys was on its way to the children.
Our client and friend, Todd Rose, CEO of Visiting Nurse and Health Services of Connecticut shared a touching story with me recently. A beloved home health aide was taken seriously ill quite suddenly and required significant time off work. One staff member quickly spoke up and said she would donate her own PTO time to help cover her friend’s time away. Immediately other staff rallied to help also. In total, 16 weeks of PTO time was donated by the staff to help cover the sick time of their team member!
These stories represent just a sample of what could be written about people who have given away their time, talent, or treasures; people who have gone beyond themselves and invested in a cause bigger than themselves. What’s so exciting is that these stories often inspire others!
Giving spreads. You might say it’s contagious.
People dig into their pocket, ink in time on their calendar, or give up PTO time for many reasons. Usually it begins with a personal story. Perhaps we’ve learned a lesson the hard way and we don’t want others to experience the same difficulty. Sometimes it’s an obstacle overcome, and we have an internal need to say or do something so others can avoid the same obstacle.
Maybe someone did something for us and we feel it’s time to give back. Perhaps we see a need, and because we really do believe, “I am my brother’s keeper,” we extend our hand. We might even see someone else giving and it tugs at our conscience.
‘Tis the season,” as we say. The holidays are definitely a time when we’re more aware of the needs of others. And there seem to be more needs than ever as we’ve all been challenged in some way by economic conditions. Yet, as health care professionals, you are already a giver and sensitive to the needs of others. You couldn’t stay in this work very long if you were not led by a mission beyond yourself.
Step Up!
The question, then, is what time, talent, and treasure can you give this season? To make your giving more meaningful this year, ponder these ideas and take action on what touches your heart.
How to make your giving more meaningful
Give time, talent or treasure. Gifts can be given in many ways. Financial support is critical to all organizations, yet it might be a greater gift to give a few hours of your time. If you have an avocation of gardening or music or fishing, etc., teach someone less fortunate what you know. You can also serve on a community board, be a big sister or brother, or mentor someone new to the home care profession.
Give to a cause that stirs your heart. It took me 20 years to finish my undergraduate degree, part time. I experienced the positive impact education had on my self esteem and my career. Since then, I’ve been passionate about women’s education. I now focus my energies on two specific organizations that represent this cause.
Give joyfully. No grumbling or resentment allowed. Give with a loving spirit. It’s a privilege and a responsibility to share what you’ve been given.
Give freely. Of course it’s nice if they write about you in the paper or when you are acknowledged with an award. However, don’t let that be your motivation. Give from your heart and expect nothing in return.
Give with an eye on eternity. The world’s agenda oftentimes promotes self over service to others. God’s agenda promotes service to others over self. (That’s Servant Leadership and a topic for another message) Your gifts may not be fully appreciated, or even noticed here, but you won’t spend eternity here either.
The givers and takers
It’s been said that there are two kinds of people in the world; givers and takers. At this time of year, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, the ultimate giver, we can model His love by giving freely to others of our time, talents, and treasures.
Let’s look and listen for the needs of others and Step Up! It’s what leaders do!
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She was told she had just a short time to live. In anticipation of her death, she gave $150,000 to help total strangers get a college education at the University of Southern Mississippi. Oseola McCarty wasn’t wealthy. She was 91 years old and lived in a little home she’d been in most of her life. She gave away most of her life savings, she said, so that the children wouldn’t have to work as hard as she did. Inspired by the story of Mrs. McCarty’s gift, multibillionaire Ted Turner gave away a billion dollars.
Stephen Tweed, CSP, is Chairman and CEO of Leading Home Care ... a Tweed Jeffries company. For over 25 years he has been a recognized leader in strategy and leadership development for home health care & hospice companies and associations. He is the author or co-author of seven books, five of which were written specifically for the home care industry. He has served on the boards of directors of three not-for-profit home care agencies, and has served as interim President & CEO of a $25 million home care company. 