Hopefully you wouldn’t turn your back on a family member in need. And when you help them, you wouldn’t see it as charity. You would consider it a privilege that you were able to help them overcome their situation. And if it’s your child, they won’t feel like a charity case. They will feel your love and support. You will keep their self-esteem intact.
Yet if you turn away from a needy or poor person, you have made them feel as if they have no value. You take away their dignity. This can lead them to desperation, as they might see no hope in their life. Then our world will suffer in some way, in part because of your lack of compassion.
So the next time you do something charitable for someone, make them feel like your child would feel. Not as a charity case, but as someone who senses your support and respect. When a disadvantaged person feels that you care for them in some way, you give them a reason to feel better about themselves and improve their situation. They will feel worthy, and you may have done your part in helping them to help themselves.
Even a small act of kindness from you can make our world a slightly better place. And by doing so, you will have made your contribution to that end.