PCMC 12 27 08 / Sharing Blessings Last Yuletide Season

I've taken the liberty of sharing here the video made by Meinard, a dear friend back in the Philippines [read: I would have not done anything like this, if I don't know personally the person taking lead]. I'm delighted to learn from an email exchange that he made a video he originally posted on YouTube, which I tried to blogged on two nights ago but failed to get posted here for some unknown technical reason (it may get posted here, sometime, but I won't worry about it). This serves then as a second article on the said video. I'd rather keep my efforts to do charitable works not blasted about here, nor even to my own network. I'd always remember some biblical entries, to wit:
"Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18
1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 16 “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

But of course, there will always be exceptions. I could not give cash, nor contributed much more. Meinard gave me the opportunity to write a note of appreciation, expressing everyone's gratefulness to those who have gone out of their usual way to share blessings during the Yuletide Season, in this case to the cancer-stricken children of the Philippine Children Medical Center (PCMC). The note becomes a part of the picture slides turned into a video [it's always feeling odd to have while reading one's work, as I would have always wanted to come up with the best I could share]. I knew it meant a lot to those who were involved; it's not only those who were given blessings, but also those who were giving blessings, as the cycle of sharing has to continue for everyone, to make life a lot bearable (given hardships and all!). There's no doubt there will be a continuation of these efforts in some other forms, in time. There will be unsolicited criticisms that will come out against these endeavors, but I'd rather not waste my time paying attention to them. There will be snide remarks, even if I do good anyway! I just wish I can always take the chance to share whatever small goods I've got (even if it may seem there will always be the chance to be abused by crooks lurking somewhere out there!) to those who may actually need them. I'm much more willing, most especially with some people I don't personally know. I've realized these endeavors are best done to have fun, to minimize the dreadfulness that may confront me, together with some good friends around who'd keep away or refrain from judging my motives......