20th October, 2022
How do you give?
Do you find joy in giving in little ways?
Do you give cheerfully with the sweetness of humility?
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Humble service happens when we realise we are the instruments of serving and subordinate our egos for the greater good of the object of our service.
An anecdote which comes to mind is of Tulsidas who came to know about a unique behaviour of Rahim.
While giving alms to the poor, Rahim gave with extreme humility.
While giving, he kept his gaze downwards towards the earth. He never looked at the person he was giving alms to.
Tulsidas promptly wrote the following couplet and sent it to Rahim.
“ऐसी देनी देंनज्यूँ, कित सीखे हो सैन
जयोंज्यों कर ऊंच्यो करो, त्योंत्यों निचे नैन”
“O great person, where have you learnt this amazing way of giving?
As your hands rise (to give), your eyes look down”
Completing the couplet which Tulsidas wrote, Rahim replied in extreme humility.
His reply shows how evolved Rahim was as a soul.
“देनहार कोई और है, भेजत जो दिन रैन
लोग भरम हम पर करे, तासो निचे नैन”
“The Giver is someone else (the God almighty), giving day and night. The world has a misconception that I am the giver. So, I lower my eyes in embarrassment.”
In a world that seems to reward those who shout the loudest, humility can feel like an outdated virtue. Humble people are not trying to impress anyone, they are at ease with themselves and they can take a compliment without letting it go to their head. They say thanks, and they mean it.
Being humble means you do things out of the kindness of your heart, without the expectation of anything in return; even gratitude. So when people asked “why would I do that if I’m not getting anything?”
My response is always “because it’s called being human.”
“If you cannot be great, be willing to serve God in that which is small. If you cannot do great things for Him, cheerfully do little ones.”
Actions truly do speak louder than words. Let your humble giving approach be your voice.
Like Martin Luther King Jr. asked from himself,
Ask yourself today,
life’s most persistent and urgent question – What are you doing for others?
This festive season, let’s give with humility,
If you can’t give big things, contribute by giving little things, Just make someone smile, just be kind, be nice and stay blessed forever.