Be Generous Always
The following is a small story found in an issue of the Jordan Journal, entitled “The Pig and The Cow”.
“Why is it,” said the rich man to his minister, “that people call me stingy when everyone knows that when I die I’m leaving everything to the church?”
“Let me tell you a fable about the pig and the cow,” said the minister.
“The pig was unpopular while the cow was beloved. This puzzled the pig. ‘People speak warmly of your gentle nature and your sorrowful eyes,’ the pig said to the cow. ‘They think you’re generous because each day you give them milk and cream. But what about me? I give them everything I have. I give bacon and ham. I provide bristles for brushes. They even pickle my feet! Yet not one likes me. Why is that?’”
“Do you know what the cow answered?” said the minister. “The cow said, ‘Perhaps it is because I give while I’m still living.’”
- Author Unknown
How generous are we really if we wait until the end to give, like the rich man or the pig? If we are unwilling to share what we have until the end, when we no longer need it, we are not being generous at all. In fact, we would be selfish.
We should truly be generous and be willing to give always. Perhaps we won’t be giving “as much” as those who leave everything behind at the end. But are those who only “give” what they have when they are gone truly giving at all? For once they are gone from this world, the physical possessions no longer belong to them. And what use are those items to them anyway at that time?
Being generous and giving small portions of whatever it may be, is much greater than only leaving things behind in the end. Also, there is much more we can give when we are living. While alive we can give love, support, and all sorts of other non-physical gifts to others. But how can one give or leave behind these gifts when they are gone?
-- John Thrower Jr.