Give 'Til It Hurts?

I have a cousin who lives on the other side of the continent, and her visits "home" are infrequent.  Her father -- my mother's twin brother -- is buried in the same cemetery as my parents.  Each December when Bonnie and I go to put a wreath on their grave, we put one on my uncle's as well.  It is a small thing.  For us.  For my cousin, it is a very big thing.  A visit that she is unable to personally make is made by cousins who loved her dad quite a bit.

This week I received an email from said cousin.  She knew I'd had a birthday and wanted to know my favorite charity so that she could give a donation to it.  As a way to thank me for placing a wreath.  I was blown away.

Such a contrast to the other emails, letters, phone calls, Facebook postings and even people at the door with clipboards asking me to give money to support their favorite charities.  Which is hard for me.  Because I really can't.  I have causes that are personally important to me, and I give to them.  I know that my friends' charities are personally important to them, but my philanthropic budget line isn't large enough for me to take them on.  If someone mentions a cause that she is supporting and I feel moved to help with that support, I do.  But beyond that, all I can do is just say, "It sounds very worthwhile and important to you."

So my "distant" cousin has given me something to think about.  A philanthropic approach I can possibly implement in some way.  Thanks, cuz!