Blessing Others - by Randall F. More

 

Blessing Others 

 The customer asked the vendor, “For how much are you selling the eggs?”

 The old seller replied, “$0.25 an egg, Madam.” She said to him, “I will take 6 eggs for $1.25 or I will leave.” The old seller replied, “Come take them at the price that you want. Maybe, this is a good beginning because I have not been able to sell even a single egg today.” She took the eggs and walked away feeling she had won. She got into her fancy car and went to a posh restaurant with her friend.

There, she, and her friend, ordered whatever they liked. They ate a little and left a lot of what they ordered. Then she went to pay the bill. The bill was $45.00. She gave $50.00 and asked the owner of the restaurant to keep the change. This incident might have seemed quite normal to the owner but, very painful to the poor egg seller. Why do we often show that we have the power when we buy from the needy ones? Why do we get generous to those who do not even need our generosity?

The story teller noted that his father used to buy simple goods from poor people at high prices, even though he did not need them. Sometimes he even used to pay extra for them. The story teller got concerned by this act and asked his father why he does so? His father replied, "It is a charity wrapped with dignity, son."

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In recent years, in similar ways, each of my kids (and my wife always), through things that they have said and done, have been a big encouragement to me to be a more generous giver…  just as they each are. Examples would be to hairdressers, restaurant servers, house cleaners, dog groomers, trades people.

As one of my kids recently said, “Dad, you have most of everything that you will ever need and have the resources that you will ever need. So many others are struggling just to survive.” It is always great when one can learn from his kids! My kids are wise. One of my kids keeps gift certificates in the car to give to the needy on the streets. 

This is just one small aspect of giving, but, if able, I am trying to be more encouraged and careful not to rob myself, and God, of His and my own opportunities to bless others. 

The story reminds me of our own family time in Mexico 28 years ago, while at a road-side stand, spending 20 minutes for the purpose of buying a beautiful, colourful, hand-crafted blanket for $4, instead of $8 that the vendor requested. Admittedly, I do enjoy the fun and challenge of negotiating but that shouldn’t really be the objective. I came to realize, after paying $4, that I should have probably just offered $20 or something more reasonable, more like its real value. I still regularly use that beautiful, colourful, hand-crafted blanket and it is always a reminder of what one of the real objectives in life should be.