Christmas Giving - Does it really help?

We all hear about how Christmas is a time for giving and how we should think about those who are less fortunate than ourselves at this time of year. This got me thinking ... does the giving at Christmas really help anybody?

I use to think this thought was a little selfish but the more I think about it, the less sympathy I feel for those who have let themselves go because they've spent all their money on drugs and alcohol or some other abusive substance. Of couse, I'm all for change and yes, there are some people out there that do really try to better themselves and I say 'Hi5' to them for trying. But what about those people who, no matter how hard you try to save them, just keep falling back to their old habits. You know, the Hopeless cases.

If you saw a homeless guy on the street and he asked you for some change, would you give it to him? I guess the easy answer would be - YES, but only because it's december and it's that time for giving. But who's to say that once he has enough 'change' from random strangers he's going to put it to good use? How do we know that he wont use the 'change' we give him to go buy some more alcohol or drugs?

Wouldn't it be better, rather than givingmoney, to offer him a meal, or a shower - maybe some old clothes and a job? It would make more sense to give him the tools to learn to earn a buck for himself to get him back on his feet. If he accepts - you know he wants to change, if not - well then tell him to shove off and find some other geezer to try and pull the wool over!

Don't get me wrong, I'm no scrooge. I'd love nothing more to help a fellow person in need, but sometimes you got to think - before you do random acts of kindness this season, think about weather the person you're sharing the kindness with really wants to be helped, otherwise you're good intensions will be put to waste.

Food for thought.