“Give,even if you have little”
~~~~ Buddha ~~~~
The widow’s offering…..according to the Christian gospels, while watching people in the temple put their monetary offerings into the treasury box,Jesus tells his disciples to look at the poor widow who put in 2 copper coins while the rich were putting in quite a bit of money …so he says to them, “in truth the widow has put in more than the others because the rich were putting in their surpluses while this poor woman gave all that she had!”
Are we afraid of giving,either giving of ourselves to those in need,to make sincere time or put an effort to bring cheer or to be kind to others(not only the ones we like or near and dear to us)to make someone ‘happy’just to see them happy and not to please our own needs.
Even when we do not receive anything from making others to feel uplifted, will we lose anything,……. perhaps we might gain joy and a sense of meaningful living from doing so,our hearts are learning to be wise and compassionate,it is learning to be open to love without conditions and limitations………..
Even when we cannot be present to give of our time and effort,we can practise the offering of our sincere kind thoughts and intentions by way of prayers, supplications, wishes and pleasant kindly surprises etc….
We might each be caught up with our own state of affairs and problems and so are the others…and it doesn’t mean that we take for granted that people who seem well to do, busy enjoying life and look seemingly happy are at peace and are not in need of kindly attentions!
If we can but give a few moments of our thoughtful time for others,we can practise opening the heart to generosity and kindness,instead of keeping it locked in…….thinking we are the only ones suffering or going thru rough and lonely,difficult desperate times.When we relate to others by way of thoughfulness and understanding and respect,we soften our hearts and therefore can be resilient and be adaptable to our own difficult circumstances ……..
When we truly give even if we have little……we acknowledge and witness to the wealth we already are within…….
I like to honor my father Harold in this aspect of generosity,giving the very little he had …..a man who did not have much by way of financial security but a man rich of heart………..I remember my father’s kindness especially so when he would sacrifice his share of food to give to 2 poor families whom he temporarily allowed to come live with us in our simple home,I remember they made makeshift beds and little shelters in our living room with carboard boxes.My father made sure they had food to eat….no matter, he was always willing to eat less so others may share in the meal.As I write this I can feel the generosity/kindness of his heart and most importantly he never made a fuss or complained or showed disrespect to these poor families ….both families were only mothers with children( a couple of mentally disabled children included)…………..I guess unconsciously then I learned a lot from my father’s kindness,from his very little offerings to us,his family,friends,relatives and to strangers and to all who came into our humble home………………………………………….
