The Red Cross called me the other day to cancel my next appointment to donate blood. It seems that you can only donate blood six times a year not every 56 days like I thought. I never knew this before. I had always missed at least one blood drive a year because of snowy roads or car trouble or being sick or appointments I couldn’t break. I felt a little better knowing that I probably wouldn’t have been able to donate those times anyway because of the limit.

I will miss seeing the volunteers at the next blood drive. They always provide such delicious snacks for the blood donors after they donate. I will miss too the kind faces of the Red Cross workers who make the long drive up to the church where I usually donate. They work so hard to help save lives and make this world a better place. I will also miss seeing the other blood donors. Some of them I have seen so many times over the years. They are always willing to take the time out of their busy days to give the gift of life and help their fellow human beings.

Each time I donate blood too I feel a sense of community, a sense of caring, and a sense of family. Being with so many kind, giving, and loving people reminds me that we are all God’s Beloved Children in this world. And each time we donate our blood or give our time, or share our love we become more like God, more like the person we were always meant to be. And isn’t that why we are in this world in the first place?

Always take the time to donate then. Donate your Love. Donate your time. Donate your smile. Donate your kindness. Donate your blood. Donate your money. Donate your joy. Donate your life. Make each day a day of giving, caring, and sharing. Then each day you will make this Earth a little more like Heaven. Then each day you will make the angels sing. Then each day you will become a little more like the Loving God who smiles down upon you.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16 NIV)

Joseph J. Mazzella