A woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry and the woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman.
“I’ve been thinking” he said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but I will give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.”
Giving is one of the greatest character-building exercises on the planet. When you give of yourself without expectations of return you expand in your ability to love. A sense of abundance develops. A win-win situation is created because everybody gains. This type of thinking goes against what most people believe. Most people believe that if you give, then you have less. Instead of a sense of abundance and prosperity, they experience a sense of scarcity. People who think in these terms tend to struggle with fear, frustration, depression, illness, and anger.
Recall the last time you did something for someone else. Do you remember the feeling of happiness you experienced? When you give, you always receive as well.
If you are feeling unhappy and empty, I suggest that you seek out someone or a group in need. And then look for ways to fill their needs. By giving, you receive feelings of love and happiness which will replace your sense of emptiness.
The quality of your life can be measured by what you give.
— Givers are happier people —
Anne Frank said, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” John D. Rockefeller Jr. considered giving a “privilege” and Albert Einstein viewed giving as “every man’s obligation”.
I challenge you to develop an attitude of service. Look to your spouse and children as a place to start and then branch out to other areas of the community. Giving can be simple or complex. Either way, remember it is better to give than to receive.
Here are some ideas to get you going:
Pick up trash
Speak kindly to a cashier
Pay for someone else’s meal behind you at a drive-thru.
Call an old friend to say hello.
Visit someone who is shut-in or recovering from surgery.
Volunteer to work at schools, churches, community organizations, etc…
Visit someone in a nursing home.
Donate books to the library.
Teach someone to read.
Donate clothes or household items.
Support our troops.
Grow your hair and donate it to Locks of Love, an organization that makes wigs for children/people who lose their hair during cancer treatment.
The possibilities for giving are endless. That feeling you get when you give is tremendous. Be a cheerful giver and look for ways to lighten the load for someone else. Have a Great Day!
Mark Webb is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice at South Georgia Psychiatric and Counseling Center in Valdosta. He is the author of How To Be A Great Partner and How To Argueproof Your Relationship. Read more of his articles www.TheRelationshipSpecialist.com