IF YOU HAVE LESS, GIVE OF YOUR HEART

 



“If you have much, give of your wealth;

if you have less, give of your heart.”

Anonymous

 

On the New-year day, I had called to wish one of my elderly relatives. This woman had struggled hard all her life and given her children quite a cushioned life… In the process, she hadn’t kept anything for her old age or medical issues. For past few years, her health has been waning and making her fully dependent – financially as well as physically – on her married children.

During my conversation with this woman, she mentioned about one of her nieces, who is in her mid-sixties. “Gerry, she had called me yesterday and told me, that she had been very sick and nobody was   helping her. I feel bad… Her dad had helped me when I was young and struggling… I want to help her financially. But, you know my situation… I can’t take any decision on my own… I am completely dependent on my children… I am scared to ask them to do anything in this respect.”

I heard out my elderly relative with genuine empathy. Then, I managed to say this: “Aunty, I understand your feelings and your situation. It’s so important for you to remember the help her father had extended when you were young… It’s important, that you feel strongly about helping her financially. But, you have to bring the focus on yourself now… You need to take care of yourself… The best thing you can do for her is ‘Wish her well… Keep her constantly in your prayers’… She will be taken care of… She will receive help through your prayers and good wishes.”

Just some sugar-coated words?

No Sir… Not. They are the most genuine words, soaked in faith and compassion…





You see, there is something called ‘a good guilt’ in life… All of us have some of it, sometimes in our lives. This guilt stems from a good conscience… and it keeps us grateful and faithful… It makes us pray hard in our helpless times…

The anonymous saying vouches for what I just said:

“If you have much, give of your wealth;

if you have less, give of your heart.”




 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: Pixabay

Video: Mathew Kelly


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