Archive for January 9th, 2012
A lesson in generosity
This website is primarily for news about charitable giving and altruism within our own species, but I couldn’t resist posting here an unattributed story that was recently forwarded to me by e-mail, relating a lesson in generosity starring two horses. They may put us to shame… or perhaps they will provide role models, inspiring us to greater compassion for our fellow humans in 2012!
Two Horses (Author Unknown)
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing…
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.
Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.
When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way….
Good friends are like that… you may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours, and remember… be kinder than necessary – everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly. FOR WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT.
’nuff said!
Occupy – generosity
So, “Occupy” was the ‘Word of the Year’, then, in 2011 (according to the American Dialect Society, which voted it in on Friday evening). This was apparently due to the vast numbers of people around the world who have recently begun protesting about economic inequalities and the like.
So, here’s a thought… wouldn’t it be cool if those who ‘HAVE’ started a new trend, this year, by giving to those who ‘HAVE NOT’? And then maybe by this time next year we could be celebrating a new ‘Word of the Year’ – generosity!
