General Chat

Kahlil Gibran


" Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."

And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And what is fear of need but need itself?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving

And is there aught you would withhold?

All you have shall some day be given;

Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."

The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.

They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.

And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream."

*******

Now I am sure you are asking if you have got this far, what I am on about ! :) well a) I like 'The Prophet' from which this extract comes....

and b) Seems appropriate today and as we near the Season of Goodwill, the Season of Giving, to remind people that 'charity' is not all about giving pennies or pounds ...it is about giving hope, and compassion and tolerance towards others also. So if you have little to give in monetary terms it really IS the thought that counts!

Charity is not about going to church on Sundays as a 'good Christian' and donating to missions (though there is nothing wrong with that per se) whilst ignoring the person in need on your doorstep (be they Christian or not) .

Charity is not about feeling virtuous because you have given, it is about seeing a need greater than your own and getting your backside into gear to do something about it.

And it is hard b***** work to be 'charitable' sometimes... but
. "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is every wasted." (Aesop) :)

Climbs off soapbox, takes more coffee and disappears before things are thrown lol (PS it sounds preachy, isn't meant to be.... just my thoughts today )

Have a good day all :)

Rose xx

PS 'Charity' is also sometimes about recognising something good in someone you otherwise dislike.... and in loving that part of them, meeting them half-way

(I really must start taking more water with it LOL )

i love reading his writings Rose......(Gibran)

i have a mini book of his next to my chair "Life's Wisdom" and i often just open a page and think about his writings.

xxx

Morning Stella :) was just adding a bit to post...

my friend gave me 'The Prophet' about 20 years ago, still have it though it has been read so much is now falling apart

xx

have been looking on amazon since i bought the little book, think i will be treating myself very soon......

xx

I would Stella...

expect you have seen this , but if not worth a look
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalil_Gibran

xx

Morning Rose and Stella :)

Very wise words :) x

Morning Ann :) am just going to get Dan and go shopping while it is sunny ... back a bit later

xx

Catch up later Rose ..... have fun .. spending lol

Didn't spend much Ann lol only food shopping today :)

xx

n for the night shift :)

rose...

i am expecting "the prophet" to arrive in the next few days....lol

lol Stella.... should you not be waiting till Christmas?

I know you will enjoy it :)

xx

am looking forward to it rose....talking of giving, i haven't got my little book now ..i gave it to my best friend this afternoon... perhaps she will in return give to someone else.... hope so.