Charity is Charity

I am someone that has always given much of myself to benefit others, where I saw a need existed.  It was never to check a box to win my way into heaven or to pay for past sins.  It was simply that they had a need, so I gave.  I still believe in giving to needs, even as I am learning to impose limited and boundaries on how much of myself I give away.  Yet, there needs to be focus on one thing that I didn't always undestand and needs to be noted to be true.  Charity is charity.

That may sound like it is obvious, but it has not always been understood by myself or by others, and I think the confusion is shared by many others out there, so I will explain.  

Probably the best way to highlight the error is to describe what charity is NOT.  Charity for meeting the needs of others is not romance or a relationship, either romantic relationship or friendship.  It is just charity meeting a need.  Just because you are helping someone should not be seen by yourself as a romantic act, so if you are in a romance there should be romantic items being done.  Similarly, just because someone is giving to you, receiving it is not a romantic act.  It is receiving charity and should not be seen as romance.  Both of these are true of friendships in their forms of connection, as well.

To echo the beginning of this blog post, I am not saying do not give.  Give, while respecting the boundary of keeping for your own needs and plans.  But, do not confluse doing so as anything more than it is... giving to meet a need.