Remembering that his mother’s birthday was the following week, a young man
nonchalantly wrote out a check for $50 and stuck it inside a card to mail to
her. He then breathed a sigh of relief and resumed his normal routine.
Another young man had been saving every nickel and dime. When he had
finally saved up $18, he called a florist that sold the rare flower his mother
especially liked. For no particular reason, he bought the special flower
and presented it to his mother.
Which of the two was truly generous? The answer cannot be determined by
dollars and cents.
Generosity is not measured in figures or by the material value of the gift.
Generosity is measured by how much of the giver is invested in the gift
given. That value is not easy to quantify.
Following are three ways that a person can invest himself or herself into a
gift:
Know what
will mean the most to the recipient.
When a giver knows what a person really wants or needs, he selects a gift that
demonstrates the closeness of their relationship.
Take time
to find – or make – the right gift.
When a Gift is made by hand, or it is perceived that it took time and effort to
obtain, the giver’s extra efforts increase the value of the gift. An
investment of time demonstrates forethought and commitment.
Take
initiative to meet unexpressed needs.
A gift contains something more of the giver when it is neither asked for nor
expected. A gift that is given because you saw a need for provision or
encouragement and took the initiative to meet that need demonstrates personal
care and concern.
The actual value of these various efforts is more subjectively felt than
objectively measured. That is the nature of generosity. Rather than
quantitative data, generosity is a quality based on relationship.
At its heart, generosity is not really about giving gifts. Gifts are a
convenient vehicle for conveying your own thoughts, time, and interests to
another, but generosity can be communicated in many more ways than just material
gifts. Generosity is about giving of yourself to others.
Being available to talk, giving time to help, sharing counsel and advice,
lending use of equipment, and even offering a smile of encouragement or a
handshake can be forms of generosity.
Look for ways to give to others, and look for ways to invest yourself in what
you give.
Give on the Job
Giving material gifts may not be a regular practice among work associates.
Nevertheless, there is an important place for generosity in relationships on the
job. Your interest in helping others in their work and your willingness to
give of your time, your resources, and your insights to support them is an
expression of generosity.
Demonstrate generosity by freely giving whatever you can to invest
yourself in others.
Character definitions and information used
by permission. Copyright Character Training Institute.
characterfirst.com
