Joy Of Giving

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give” – by Winston S. Churchill.

We spend our whole life in calculations of our expenses and earnings. This is just a routine job which provides a better living but no satisfaction, but this emptiness could be fulfilled by the joy of giving to someone who desperately needs it. Receiving gifts feels great but this feeling is for a short span, but we achieve inner joy when we give. It was quoted by Mahatma Gandhi that, “to find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.” It’s a divine feeling of giving without any expectation of receiving.

Everyone can’t be Mother Teresa or Mahatma, but everyone wants peace at heart and giving, is definitely one way to provide the joy of innate satisfaction. I would like to share a small incident that happened to me, recently.

One day I was playing with my son in the garden where our poor gardener was working on the plants. My 5-year-old son knew that it was the time for the poor man to leave for his home. He saw his torn shoes lying at the corner of the garden. Suddenly he gave a cunning smile and said, “Mom, I got an idea of playing a prank with our gardener. Let’s hide his shoes somewhere and it will be fun watching him search it everywhere.” I was not happy to hear this, but it was not weird to expect such ideas from the little mind. I wanted to mould him, so I said, I have a better idea, let’s put some money in his shoes and we will hide somewhere and watch him. He said Ok, and we did as planned. The gardener, by now was done with his work and was leaving for his home. He reached to the spot to find his shoes when he wore them he found something was irritating him from inside. He checked and found a 50 rupee note, he looked everywhere but couldn’t find anyone. He inquired the guards if anyone has dropped their money in the garden. But, the guard said no, he doesn’t have any inquiries like that. Then he wore his other shoe and again he found a note.

This time tears rolled down from his eyes to his cheeks, and he thanked God for giving him this money with which he could buy medicines and food for his daughter. Hearing this, my son was also in tears and thanked me for giving the gardener a hidden gift, when he needed it the most. My intention behind this was to teach positivity to my child but the incident taught me how satisfying is the joy of giving. I realised that the joy of giving is far more than, getting.

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed” – by Maya Angelou.