"How #GivingTuesday" can Teach us About Humility and Generosity

They come with a vengeance filling our mailbox and email. Giving Tuesday or end of year appeals from every nonprofit you’ve ever had contact with!  Except from us?  Did I miss the boat or did I opt to make my appeal today… when I have you all to myself? (Cue the sinister laugh).

First of all, I applaud the good work all the organizations I get appeals for money from, who participate in #GivingTuesday.  At one time or another I have given to them so I don’t blame them for asking!  I counted them up and I received appeals from 23 different nonprofits via email and 4 more in the snail mail.  It's not a record or anything, but it was a lot. 

For experienced people who run nonprofit organizations, asking for financial support is just another day in the office. For the people on the receiving end of these appeals the experience can be very different. Most regular folks, even those who regularly partake in nonprofit offerings (like a church service or marriage program) do so without knowing the cost of things.  Even small organizations like Stella Maris Center have monthly bills and when events are held, those monthly expenses rise.  Those of us running nonprofits have all been on both ends of this experience so we understand the need for asking and also the hesitation to ask.

Some of us are new to running nonprofits so asking is especially hard. I mean there was a time I would rather eat bugs, or mud, or mud bugs, than ask people for money. I’m serious.  But after some time praying about the situation I came to a conclusion about my hesitancy. It’s a lack of humility. Pride made me think that it was undignified to ask people for money.  In my ministry, I have talked with folks about some of the most delicate and intimate things you can ever talk to another human being about, but actually verbalizing that this ministry takes not only time, and lots of prayer, but also money, has been nearly impossible for me.

Many years ago, I took on Children’s Church ministry for my then parish, St. Edith Stein, which was newly established at the time and gathered at a junior high school in Katy, TX. Setting up the junior high for Mass and our other activities there was an elaborate choreographed dance.  Every week, a trailer, pick-up trucks and half dozen volunteers hauled everything in that transformed the school gym (and later the cafeteria) into our worship space.  I set up the Children’s Church areas in the school’s hallways.  I recall wobbling toward the door with bins up to my neck one Sunday and asked a gentleman to open a door for me.  As I walked though I quipped, “this is why God only gave us two hands, so we have to ask people for help!”  If we were octopus people, we might make the mistake of thinking we don’t need anybody!  We would also look horrifyingly funny.  Asking for help is a part of the human experience.

God is constantly at work refining in us those traits we need to accomplish His work.  Our Lord has used many experiences, losses and encounters with the poor to teach me a thing or two about humility. I pray for an increase in this virtue so Stella Maris Center can accomplish the beautiful work our Lord has given to us. So, yes I will venture happily into the world of asking for help, monetary and otherwise. Why not? God has an overabundant amount of resources!

Yes indeed, God has and owns everything and I believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of His people. Asking people for money is simply an appeal to God to open a door with the help of His people, his hands and feet. At the same time God is growing in each giver the virtue of generosity.  I know our Lord has already provided the financial resources SMC needs, but he chose to put it in your pockets!  God put it there because it is up to all of us who care about marriage and family to participate in the work. I can’t think of a better or more serious cause.

We are on the front lines of a spiritual and cultural war. Sister Lucia, one of the visionaries at Fatima made a prophetic prediction on the topic in a 1984 letter to Cardinal Carlo Caffarra.  She wrote, “The decisive battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about marriage and the family. Do not be afraid”, she added, “because anyone who works for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be fought and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue.” And then she concluded: “however, Our Lady has already crushed his head.”   I think we can all agree that Sister Lucia’s predictions have come to pass but the battle wages on.

This month I am sharing an infographic which includes our accomplishments for the year. In all, we impacted 611 families in 2022 and have helped strengthen marriage ministry by training 41 people! This on a tiny shoestring budget!  Please give. Your generocity will be multiplied and will help us strengthen marriages and families! God bless you. Have a peaceful and prayerful Advent! 

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