Generosity

Generosity is the trait of being willing to give money or time. Generosity means to be noble.

We feel sympathetic towards the poor and donate them food or money. But is this enough? Will they ever settle in their life after our noble help?

No! So what should one do to help them permanently? The answer lies in the short story below:

There was a female beggar who used to beg everyday at a railway station. She was in her 40’s or so and she used to beg the whole day with her 10 year old daughter. I used to give money or food to her.

One day I was waiting for my train to come. It was 20 minutes late. I saw an old lady who must be in 50’s or so, talking with that female beggar. They were having an animated conversation. I was curious to know the topic they were talking on. I was about to go there but as I heard the announcement of my train coming, I rushed off.

The next day I saw her begging as usual but after 5 months, she vanished. It was a mystery for me. I kept on thinking for days that where did that women and her daughter go? Where?

Now after 5 months i.e. after 10 months since that poor woman vanished, I was travelling in my train as usual. Suddenly I heard the bangles selling woman shouting in Hindi, “Bangles le lo bangles.”  I was awestruck. It was her. She looked calm now and her daughter was there along with her helping her mother. A lady saw her and got engrossed in the designs. She told her daughter to stand there and came near my seat to sell bangles.

She recognized me and smiled. I asked her, “What happened? Where were you? And what a pleasant change!” She answered, “Yes, I have indeed changed. 10 months earlier a woman, probably a messenger of God, came to me and told me to do something. She told me to sell something or do some small job. I was reluctant but later I was convinced. She told me to save money and even admit my daughter to school. So I am saving money for that. I am thankful to her as she showed me the way of living. And...  Yes that pair is for 100  Rs. madam. Do you want anything dear?” I said, “No.” And she went ahead with a smile on her face.

Now that changed my definition of ‘GENEROSITY’. Generosity now for me means to help a person settle in life. The food and money we donate to poor is not enough because as it gets over the poor has to beg again. The cycle never ends. That’s the best way is to help a poor person and break the cycle of poverty.