Virtue of the Week focuses on building peaceful and caring communities through understanding and fostering the practice of virtues. The Source supports the Virtues Project and will publish one virtue developed by the project each week.
Charity is a giving heart, a generous way of viewing others and caring for their needs. Unless we are charitable, no matter how much excellence we acquire, it is without purpose. Charity springs from compassion for the suffering of others, even those we don’t know.
Charity moves us, and we respond to their needs, giving help and kindness. We make a genuine difference in their lives.
When we are charitable, we don’t judge others. We give them the benefit of the doubt.
Charity is caring made manifest. It begins with those closest to us and includes ourselves. Charity creates a circle of love.
Quote:
“And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Bible, 1 Corinthians, 13:4
Practicing Charity
I feel compassion for the suffering of others.
I share what I have.
I give generously.
I withhold judgments.
I give others room for mistakes.
When I see a need, I take action to help.
I am thankful for the gift of Charity. It makes my life a blessing..
Questions for discussion
– How do we offer compassion for the suffering of others here?
– When do our judgmental selves show up? How does judgment erode charity?
– How can we commit to helping when we see a need? Are there barriers to taking action?
– What can we give generously to our community? What can we not give generously?
The Virtues Project is provided by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands in partnership with Virtues Matter.
Virtues Matter was started by a wife-husband team of social entrepreneurs seeking to positively uplift as many lives as possible. We aim to inspire and empower, to build capacity, strengthen relationships, and help everyone lead lives of passion and purpose.
Virtues Matter believes in a world where people are committed to kindness and respect, strive to be their best, and live with hope, courage, and in unity. We built the Virtues Cards mobile app, an interactive personal and team development tool, to help people identify and develop key virtues skills. We also offer dynamic workshops, online training, and customized programs to help people cultivate these positive qualities of character. To learn more, visit virtuesmatter.com.
