Joy of Giving February 2013

The festive season of giving and wishing good cheer is over and we probably feel we have done our good deed of giving. Yet when we watch some TV reality shows of benevolence, we want to be part of it. The natural state of a human being is to give. Acts of giving money, time, skills or doing random act of kindness have been practised from ancient times. It is an act of expansion of oneself.

Over the year’s spiritual teachers and even todays psychologists are also preaching and prescribing “giving” as a way of living that leads to greater joy and peace over the course of a lifetime. All nature acts the way it was meant to --- the sun gives us light and warmth, trees give us oxygen, nature’s way is predictable! How about us human beings, we were created to give as well.  GOD gives!

We can give from the goodness of our heart, a quick smile, a helping hand, a listening ear, and lots of love. When we give we live and live bountifully.  What can you give if you don’t have money to give? I love Swami Sivananda’s (an Indian Sage) advice, to which I have added a few more lines of my own.

• TO YOUR ENEMY - FORGIVENESS.


• TO YOUR CHILDREN - GOOD EXAMPLE.


• TO YOUR FATHER - DEFERENCE


• TO YOUR MOTHER - CONDUCT TO MAKE HER PROUD


• TO YOUR FAMILY - ACCEPTANCE


• TO YOUR EMPLOYER - YOUR LOYALTY


• TO YOUR EMPLOYEE - ENCOURAGEMENT


• TO YOURSELF - SELF RESPECT


• TO ALL MEN -   LOVE AND CHARITY

Dear GOD ,You have given of your love freely. Open the eyes of my heart that I may love others as you have loved me .Fill me with the joy of unselfish giving.

BY GIVING YOU KEEP THE SPIRIT OF GOOD CHEER ALIVE ALL THE YEAR ROUND.