Giving--

According to Charity Navigator (THE charity assessment organization):

Total giving to charitable organizations was $410.02 billion in 2017 (2.1% of GDP).

Giving has increased in current dollars every year since 1977, with the exception of three years that saw declines: 1987, 2008 and 2009.

As in previous years, the majority of that giving came from individuals. Specifically, individuals gave $286.65 billion, accounting for 70% of all giving and representing a 3.0% increase over 2016.

Historically, donations from individuals account for over two-thirds of all donations. If you add in gifts from bequests, then the category accounts for nearly 80% of all giving. In other words, the donating public, not big foundations or corporations, is responsible for the vast majority of annual donations.

Receiving--

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF):

After seeing overall holiday sales increase 5.5 percent in 2017, the National Retail Federation (NRF) expects Americans to spend this holiday season another 4.1 percent, bringing overall holiday spending to almost $721 billion.

(In case you’re wondering what the holiday shopping season includes, it covers all of November and December, including four major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.)

We still spend more on ourselves, families and friends than we do on charities.

Is it because we like to see the effect of our giving up close?

Is it that we like having those close to us acknowledge our "kindness"?

I don't really "need" anything, but I love that my Wife gets me sweet, thoughtful things and Sonia gave me a wonderful Day-by-Day calendar (that I never would have gotten for myself) that has made my year brighter and more thoughtful.

What do you think about giving and receiving?

And, please, don't use the misquote of Gotham, shown correctly below.

"More blessed" isn't exactly the same as "better."

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" - Acts 20:35 (New American Standard Bible)