Today's Feature
Focusing on people, places and things of general interest.
As part of an ongoing commitment to families, The Markham Institute also runs a blog series, Eye on The Family. This blog series focuses on issues and concerns involving the everyday challenges of families and family life. The following feature is one of those blogs originally published on March 20th, 2008 on www.Eye-on-the-Family.blogspot.com.
Are we Getters or Givers?
Here is the regular menu of what our family gets:
Cars Roads Police House
Water Fuel Power Mail
Garbage TV Radio Internet
Holidays Sports Games Shows
Newspapers Bikes Health Care Drugs
Emergency Dental Libraries Swimming
Food Clothing Shoes Furniture
Insurance Charge Cards Schools Counselling
Training Armies Mounties Alarms
Churches Clubs Classes Etc.
We not only have all these, we expect to have them all the time. So our Family is a "getter" - big time.
Does our family ever think how we get all this? When we pay taxes and when we buy something we feel we are paying for it - but are we?
Does our family ever think of itself as a member of the community - getting and giving?
If we did, we would realize that you can't buy good service. That only comes from someone wanting to help. We would also realize that most of these services rely on volunteer help somehow. So there are helpers out in our community helping. Does our family see this and does it do it?
The sad fact is that there are folks who think they have a right to get. It is also sad that too many families take all their goodies for granted. But then, there are families who see themselves as community supporters doing what they can to help.
Is our community showing signs that the "getters" outnumber the "givers"? That is when communities fail. That is when families and individuals suffer - BIG TIME.
Are you interested in seeing more from this blog series? Go to www.Eye-on-the-Family.blogspot.com to catch the current and back issues. The series is published twice a month and encourages readers to voice their thoughts/views.