Charity does not simply mean giving money; that is just what people believe because it’s the easiest way to show it.  Charity has been defined as showing pure love, benevolent feeling and leniency in judging others.

This year, make the world a better place and extend yourself beyond writing a check.  I’m not talking about changing the world and I’m not talking about running for office.  I’m talking about doing one good thing, one more good thing than you did last year.  If you can’t think of a good deed you’ve done before, then you only have one thing to do to be better than before.

It can be as simple as shooting a smile to a stranger, shoveling the driveway of the old curmudgeon down the street or preparing a box of gifts and food for a needy family (the local churches have endless lists of families in need).

If you are a regular good deed doer, when you’re all deeded out, go do one more good deed than you normally would have.

If you have children, involve them!  Teach them to do these good things for others and show them by example; and don’t negate your good works by being a grouch the rest of the year.  And trust me about the small and simple things too; the smile of a stranger to those who find themselves having difficult times in their lives affects them more than you realize.

Spread cheer and turn the other cheek!  If you are not used to doing these things, get used to them.  Practice makes perfect, and being closer to perfection is something we all need.  The good Lord told us to be perfect and showed us the way.  He didn’t mean for us to get perfect immediately, He meant for us to do better each day and told us that His grace will make up for what we can not.