How generous are you?
By roldango
@roldango (230)
Philippines
June 16, 2010 8:22pm CST
Last week, while i was doing some gardening, a man in his late 40's approached me and told me his endearing journey in life. He said he needed Php200 so he can go back to his place where his family is waiting....You see his co-fishermen had to leave without him as they were being pursued by Patrol Dagat (he was actually delivering some catch in the market when the incident happened). so when he headed to the place where they were supposed to pick him up, the boat was no longer there. Wihtout any second thought, i gave him the amount. He promised to bring me some fish someday...I said he need not worry bout it.
Four days after, i received an unexpected cash gift from a friend working abroad...
That's how God repays a generous heart...multiplied a hundred folds.
Do you have similar stories to tell???
1 person likes this
7 responses
@brandawork (15)
• United States
17 Jun 10
I try to be generous but sometimes you never know if people are really in need like when they approach you in the street and ask for money. Sometimes its easy to tell who really needs it but sometimes you have to turn them down because you just don't think they are really in need!
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
17 Jun 10
Hi branda work: Exactly. I think that's the reason why some people are not pretty sure if they should give money to a person or not. Some people beg as a business and not because they really need to do this and I think that's not ok in any sense. It's difficult to know who is lying and who really needs the money. Thanks for your answer. Have a nice day.
ALVARO.
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
17 Jun 10
well, i don't have stories like that, but to answer the question, i'd like to think that i am generous with what i have. my friend once told me that i am very generous. he's not really a close friend so i asked him how could he tell that i am generous. he told me that he thinks i am because when we went to enchanted kingdom, i was the only one in our group who dropped money for the red cross donation. he said that even with the busy line at the entrance, i didn't ignore the donation stand.
i don't know how generous i am, it's never easy to answer that question. i just like to think that i like sharing what i have.
good day!
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
17 Jun 10
i just remembered this one time a couple of years ago, when i was on my way home. this man told me that he lost his wallet so he was asking me if he could have some money for his ride home. i gave him 50 bucks since that was all i had since i didn't have work back then. but instead of saying thank you, he asked if he could have some more because that wouldn't cover his fare. so i told him that was all i had. and he ended up being mad at me. :)
just saying that not all generous stories have a happy ending :)
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
17 Jun 10
No, but that does not stop me from giving when I have abundance. That is one of the lessons of Jesus that I agree with (give to those who ask) though business owners are saying that I am encouraging panhandling in the area.
Oh, well
You know it doesn't count if you expect reward, don't you? (at least in my opinion) I like what the Bhagavad Gita says - you have a duty to do what is right, but you do not have the right to it's fruits.
@Hmouse20 (132)
•
17 Jun 10
I agree that you shouldn't expect anything in return. I just think that there are usually subtle reminders that what you're doing is worthy. Even if it's giving a little when you can afford to. I work on a lot of community projects and when i'm working with young people in wheelchairs or those with autism spectrum disorder, I literally glow. it just seems like a natural reward for donating my time. I don't expect anything back financially etc. I just feel good about myself as a human and i like that. I don't think there's any shame in admitting that. :)
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
17 Jun 10
Hi roldango: I don't have a story at the moment but at the same time I beleive that God reward your generosity. I try to be generous with the persons that are around me but at the same time I can tell you that I don't like to give money because I'm not totally sure if the person is telling me the truth so I generally give food to the poor. Thanks for sharing with us this story. Have a nice day.
ALVARO.
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
17 Jun 10
I used to drive taxi and as such found many opportunities to help others. I remember one night I was near the end of my shift and a gentleman who had been in a fight was stranded in town and needed to get out to the Valley...10 miles away. He had no money and I had a fare waiting for me to pick up so I dropped him at a hitch-hike spot and went to get my fare. He was still there when I was driving by with my fare. I asked the fare and she said okay to pick him up. After dropping off my fare at the airport, I took him home to where he needed to go. I always made it a policy that if my fare was honest with me and told me up front that they had no money, then I would give them a courtesy ride. Of course, if they lied to me I would turn them over to the police as a thief.
One time I was waiting on a fare that needed to go to the hospital and a man got in my cab while they were coming out to the car. I gave the woman and her son a courtesy at the hospital and charged the man as he was rude. :) I loved driving cab simply because I was able to do service to others in this way.
@Hmouse20 (132)
•
17 Jun 10
It comes back to you ten-fold! Great story. I think charity is the greatest gift you can give to the world. And if your kindness is somehow repaid (not always in material goods) it is a sign that you are doing something right for the glory of the world. Thanks for posting.
